Treating Mental Health through Nature

In a recent release from StatsCan, Collingwood was ranked the highest for life satisfaction according to their official Quality of Life Framework. This comes as no surprise to the many residents and visitors who enjoy the area for its many gifts, including the abundant outdoor areas we are so fortunate to have at our doorstep.

The natural spaces and recreational opportunities contribute meaningfully to our quality of life in a lot of powerful ways. Not only do we tend to engage in healthy active habits when we’re outdoors, it also limits our time in unhealthy sedentary habits such as screen time. But even beyond our activities in nature, the green (forested) and blue (water-adjacent) spaces that we enjoy have measurable therapeutic impacts. So much so, that some studies have used time in nature as therapy for various clinical populations from addiction centres to cardiovascular disease patients, with real outcomes for mental health.

Here are some of the ways that time spent in nature can benefit your mental health:

How Nature Helps Improve Mental Health

Reducing Stress: When you spend time in nature, your body relaxes. Your heart rate and blood pressure go down, and you feel calmer. This happens because nature helps control your body’s stress response
Boosting Mood: Nature can make you feel happier. Seeing trees, flowers, and animals can lift your spirits and make you smile
Improving Attention: Nature helps you focus better. When you’re outside, your brain gets a break from screens and busy places, making it easier to concentrate
Lowering Anxiety: Being in nature can reduce feelings of worry. The calm and quiet of green spaces help you feel more at ease
Enhancing Memory: Nature can improve your memory. Walking in a park or forest helps your brain work better and remember things more easily
Combating Depression: Spending time in nature can help reduce feelings of depression. The beauty and peace of green spaces can make you feel more positive
Increasing Empathy: Nature can make you more caring. When you feel connected to the environment, you also feel more connected to other people

So, next time you look up at the escarpment or out at the bay, take a moment to appreciate how much this landscape offers not just recreational activities but also significant contributions to our quality of life as residents and visitors of this unique area!

Guest author:
Gillian White, ECA Board Member