HOW PARKS GOOD FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

The mental health benefits of being in nature are extensive. Exposure to natural surroundings can elevate psychological health, and housing near green areas can reduce residents’ mental fatigue. Even a simple window overlooking trees can help surgical patients recover faster. 

Let’s look at the top five ways for how parks and playgrounds, in particular, use their natural environment to provide mental health benefits:

1. Stifle Stress

It turns out that taking a short walk outside really will clear your head. In one study, researchers found that study participants’ levels of cortisol, a hormone released when stressed, went down after spending time in nature. Participants who were in a park environment reported feeling less stressed and more creative than those who stayed in an urban area.

2. Decrease Depression

A lack of natural surroundings can impact more than just stress levels. It can also negatively affect one’s levels of sadness and depression. One study looked at the amount of diagnosed depression in areas of only 10% green space compared with areas containing 90% green space.

The results showed 32 cases of depression per 1,000 people in places with little green space, but only 24 cases per 1,000 people in areas with more greenery. The team concluded that access to nature is key to keeping rates of clinical depression and sadness down.

3. Foster Focus

Playing outside can also improve kids’ focus and help them pay attention longer. Children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have fewer symptoms and can concentrate better after being active outside for a short time during the school day. Spending time on the playground allows kids to release pent-up energy so they can be less fidgety and distracted during school.

4. Stimulate Social Interaction

Children who learn to play well with others at a young age develop better interpersonal qualities and teamwork skills. Parks and playgrounds provide the perfect place for kids to hang out with their best friends and meet new ones. Considering the social health perks of local playgrounds, it’s no wonder that neighborhoods with thriving green spaces experience stronger social ties.

5. Heighten Happiness

Along with quick-fix results, you can count on the long-term mental health benefits of spending more time in nature. Research has shown that people who moved to a greener neighborhood still saw mental health benefits after three years of living in the new area. This kind of happiness is much more long-lasting than the short rush of euphoria you get after receiving a raise, which fizzles out after about six months.

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