nature therapy for depression

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov official

Nature-Based Therapy in Individuals with Mental Health Disorders, with a Focus on Mental Well-Being and Connectedness to Nature—A Pilot Study - PMC

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9914984

mental well-being significantly. Although not clinically relevant, the results also showed that self-reported symptoms of depression decreased significantly, as measured by the PHQ-9. The severity of the diagnoses of depression decreased: through their therapy program (including nature-based therapy), the depression scores decreased. During the baseline, 12 individuals had pronounced and severe depression. At the post-testing, seven individuals continued to have pronounced and heavy depression [...] heavy depression scores. These results indicate that nature-based therapy might decrease depression severity. On the whole, the following three scores: depressiveness, somatoform disorders, and stress decreased through the treatment. From baseline to post-testing, the mean for all three scores decreased. Thus, it is assumed that the therapy all patients received, including nature-based therapy, might have a positive effect on these three disorders. These changes might be due to the treatment [...] Keywords: garden therapy, psychosomatic patients, young adults, depression, stational care at hospital, effectiveness ## 1. Introduction

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ochealthpsych.com article

Nature Therapy: 5 Ways to Use Nature as Your Medicine for Depression | Orange County Health Psychologists

https://www.ochealthpsych.com/nature-therapy-5-ways-to-use-nature-as-your-med…

Orange County Health Psychologists Orange County Health Psychologists Home » News » Nature Therapy: 5 Ways to Use Nature as Your Medicine for Depression # Nature Therapy: 5 Ways to Use Nature as Your Medicine for Depression July 22, 2025 by Gerard Greenidge A Note from OCHP Founder, Dr. Kristin Kleppe [...] But we also understand that the last thing some individuals want to hear when they come to therapy is “eat healthier” or “get more exercise.” [...] health. In fact, exercise can be as effective or even more effective in treating depression than anti-depressants alone.

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webmd.com article

Nature Therapy: Types and Benefits

https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/nature-therapy-ecotherapy

## How Does Nature Therapy Help? More and more research suggests that spending time in natural environments can be linked to mental health benefits. For example, being in a green space has been linked to less anxiety, fewer depression symptoms, and lower stress levels. Spending time in nature helps people with depression and kids with attention problems think more clearly. [...] “One of the top benefits that we address are for people who are trying to reduce anxiety or depression and increase relationship and connection,” Lung says. “I also think it’s super engaging, so for kids and teenagers ... [and] for people who are reluctant to be in therapy.” Patricia Hasbach, PhD, a licensed professional counselor and clinical psychotherapist, is another expert in ecotherapy. She’s also co-director of the ecopsychology program at Lewis & Clark College. [...] Nature therapy, also called ecotherapy, is the practice of being in nature to boost growth and healing, especially mental health. You might also hear it called green care, green exercise, green therapy, or horticulture therapy. Although people use those terms to describe lots of outdoor activities, they can also be examples of specific nature therapy programs. The meaning of nature therapy can vary from person to person, but in general, nature therapy involves:

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frontiersin.org research

Frontiers | The mechanisms of nature-based therapy on depression, anxiety, stress, and life satisfaction: examining mindfulness in a two-wave mediation model

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1…

70 KimK. H.ParkS. A. (2018). Horticultural therapy program for middle-aged women’s depression, anxiety, and self-identify. Complement. Ther. Med.39, 154–159. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2018.06.008 71 [...] Keywords nature-based therapy, psychological mechanism, mindfulness, depression, anxiety, stress, life satisfaction Citation Kang M, Yang Y, Kim H, Jung S, Jin H-Y and Choi K-H (2023) The mechanisms of nature-based therapy on depression, anxiety, stress, and life satisfaction: examining mindfulness in a two-wave mediation model. Front. Psychol. 14:1330207. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1330207 Received 30 October 2023 Accepted 05 December 2023 Published 22 December 2023 Volume 14 - 2023 [...] DEP, depression; ANX, anxiety; ST, stress; MF, mindfulness; LS, life satisfaction. Table 6

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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov official

The Potential for Outdoor Nature-Based Interventions in the Treatment and Prevention of Depression

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8984301

therapy, wilderness therapy, horticulture therapy, adventure therapy, nature-based mindfulness and forest bathing) included some evidence of positive mental health and wellbeing outcomes. A major conclusion of this umbrella review, however, highlighted that ‘clear and comprehensive descriptions of theory, program structure, and activity details with causal links to outcomes were mostly absent’ (Harper et al., 2021). Particularly problematic was the finding that sufficient clarity on the [...] elements of interventions to individuals most likely to benefit, a therapy or prevention intervention may be more effective (Lopresti, 2019). [...] . Cheng, Kalmbach, Castelan, Murugan, Drake (2020). Depression prevention in digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia: is rumination a mediator? _J. Affect. Disord._ 273, 434–441. doi: doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.184 , PMID: [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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deconstructingstigma.org article

How Nature Improves Your Mental Health

https://deconstructingstigma.org/guides/nature

Most people need adequate sleep (7 to 8 hours per night) for mental well-being. Lack of sleep can cause or worsen depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions. ## Ecotherapy: Nature as Nurturer Ecotherapy, or nature therapy, is an umbrella term for many activities and treatments that benefit physical and mental health. It involves time spent outdoors—often with other people. Ecopsychology is a type of ecotherapy in which mental health clinicians guide activities. [...] ### Art Therapy Whether conducted indoors or outdoors, art therapy can use materials collected in nature (such as shells, rocks, and leaves) to connect people to the earth. The practice creates a sense of calm and engagement. ## What You Need To Know About Stress Person picking at hands Whether at home, school, or work, everyone of all ages experiences stress. But how can we keep stress from overtaking our everyday lives? Learn to recognize the signs and how to know when to get help. [...] ### Adventure-Based Activity Activities such as white-water rafting, rock climbing, and ziplining allow people to feel the thrill of novel experiences and support each other through them. ### Animal-Assisted Therapy The benefits of nature can magnify when people spend time with animals. Horses, dogs, and other creatures bestow a sense of calm, connection, and unconditional acceptance among those who care for them. ### Green Exercise

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sciencedirect.com article

Effects of nature-based intervention in the treatment of depression: A multi-center, randomized controlled trial

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494422001955

sessions produced restorative experiences that mediated the decrease in depression. The depression scores of participants in both groups reduced significantly and no differences were observed between the groups. Thus, nature-based intervention can be a safe and beneficial form of short-term group treatment for depression in addition to standard care. [...] ## Highlights •Nature-based treatment reduced psychological distress and increased restoration. •Participants in nature-based groups reported better work/study ability than controls. •Reduction in depression was similar in nature-based and control groups. •Restorative experiences mediated decrease in depression symptoms. ## Abstract [...] Skip to main contentSkip to article Image 2: Elsevier logo Journals & Books Help Search My account Sign in ViewPDF Download full issue Search ScienceDirect Image 3: Elsevier ## Journal of Environmental Psychology Volume 85, February 2023, 101950 Image 4: Journal of Environmental Psychology # Effects of nature-based intervention in the treatment of depression: A multi-center, randomized controlled trial

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apa.org article

Nurtured by nature

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature

risk of many psychiatric disorders later in life, including depression, mood disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and substance use disorder. For those with the lowest levels of green space exposure during childhood, the risk of developing mental illness was 55% higher than for those who grew up with abundant green space (Engemann, K., et al., PNAS, Vol. 116, No. 11, 2019opens in new window). [...] “There is mounting evidence, from dozens and dozens of researchers, that nature has benefits for both physical and psychological human well-being,” says Lisa Nisbet, PhD, a psychologist at Trent University in Ontario, Canada, who studies connectedness to nature. “You can boost your mood just by walking in nature, even in urban nature. And the sense of connection you have with the natural world seems to contribute to happiness even when you’re not physically immersed in nature.” [...] The amount of time one spends in nature isn’t the only element to consider—it’s also beneficial to feel connected to the natural world even when you’re stuck at a desk. Researchers call this feeling by a variety of names, including nature relatedness, connectedness to nature, and inclusion of nature in self, and they’ve developed a number of scales to measure the trait.

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