How green spaces benefit mental health
Studies show that green spaces can have a protective effect on our mental well-being. We’re quicker to recover from stress, and less likely to experience depression. Kids grow up with fewer psychiatric problems. Adults are less likely to commit suicide. But not all green spaces are equal, and not everyone has equal access to safe, high-quality nature zones. Here’s what every parent — and every thinking person — needs to know. Improving mental well-being usually requires that we make a special effort, but here’s a remedy that requires no work at all: Experiments consistently show that we can improve our immediate outlook — and bounce back from stress — by merely gazing at scenes of nature.