It’s pretty commonly accepted that it’s good for us to get outdoors. Taking in gorgeous views while hiking, feeling sand beneath our feet on the beach, or just breathing in the scent of a rose bush make us feel good; they help us relax and cope with stress.
But getting outdoors does more for us than just making us feel good and helping us cope with stress. A new and growing movement of experts is pushing to have “green therapy,” or ecotherapy, recognized as a valid treatment for clinical mental illness.
Research is showing that just spending time outside, whether gardening, sitting on a park bench, or riding a bike to work, has a significant healing effect for folks dealing with common mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. We already know that exercise has many mental health benefits, but by exercising outdoors we increase the positive impact that exercise has. All time spent outdoors, whether for leisure or exercise, has mental health benefits. For folks who are living with clinical mental illness, spending time outside may literally become a lifeline.
Past research has shown that the most effective treatment for clinical depression is a combination of medication and traditional talk therapy. Add in ecotherapy to the mix, by planting a garden or taking daily walks, and folks may find even faster or more long-lasting healing.
If you think you may be experiencing clinical depression, or any other mental illness, please talk to your doctor or counselor about options for treatment. But all of us can take a note from this new research: spending more time outside is good for our mental health. Many of us up on Capitol Hill already walk or bike instead of driving. Another way to work outdoor time into your schedule is to grab your laptop/book/whatever you’re working on and take it to one of the many small parks scattered throughout the Hill. Maybe also consider taking your exercise routine outdoors. If you run on the treadmill at the gym, why not jog outside? If you take a yoga class that meets indoors, why not suggest taking the class outside when the weather permits?
Up here on Capitol Hill we don’t just have small parks scattered throughout the neighborhood, we also have access to some wonderful larger parks and preserved outdoor areas. Cal Anderson Park is a great place to throw a frisbee, dance with a hula hoop, or sit on a bench and “people watch.” Volunteer park provides a larger, more quiet area for contemplative walks, a place to meditate or pray, or a quiet place to jog. Seattle University‘s campus landscaping is a haven for local birds and wildlife and a wonderful place to take a walk and examine a variety of plant life. A little ways east in Madison Valley, the south end of the UW arboretum provides a small wildlife sanctuary within the city.
Sure, we had spring weather in February and the weather recently has been a little wintry, but nevertheless it is still that time of year when the days are getting longer and the weather is, albeit in fits and starts, getting better. So as weather permits, let’s go outside!
Katie Stickney is a Pastoral Counselor and United Methodist Minister. She is a Seattle University graduate and writes about spirituality and mental health for CHS.
