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The daily sprint to make ends meet, family obligations, and endless work deadlines — life in the city can take a heavy toll on mental well-being. Thankfully, scientists have worked out a simple fix that can make all the difference.A new study by researchers at Monash University in Australia has found that a little green is all it takes to improve the mental health of urban dwellers. Yes, that’s right — nature could be the next big prescription. The findings of the study are published in The BMJ’sClimate.

How green space can improve mental health

The large international study found that green space led to fewer hospitalisations for mental health issues among urban dwellers. Higher levels of greenness were associated with lower risks of hospital admissions for mental disorders, according to an analysis of data from seven countries over two decades.They found that locally accessible green space was associated with a 7% reduction in hospital admissions for all-cause mental disorders, with stronger associations for substance use disorders (9%), psychotic disorders (7%), and dementia (6%). These associations varied across countries and disorders. In Brazil, Chile, and Thailand, they observed a consistent protective association across most disorders, while in Australia and Canada, greenness was associated with modestly increased risks for all-cause mental disorders and for several specific disorders.The study, led by Professors Shandy Li and Yuming Guo from Monash University in Australia, found that the protective effect on a person’s mental health increases with greater exposure to greenness, with no clear threshold.“The study provides clear evidence that should inform urban design and health policy to better protect mental health,” Professor Guo said.

Today, mental well-being is a global challenge. According to the researchers, 1.1 billion people had mental disorders  in 2021. This contributed to 14% of the global disease burden, with associated economic and societal costs.Though previous research has established the link between mental health and green space, the Monash study is the largest to analyse data from 11.4 million hospital admissions for mental disorders across 6,842 locations in seven countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Korea, and Thailand) from 2000 to 2019.

The researchers analysed all-cause mental disorders and six specific categories (psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, mood disorders, behavioural disorders, dementia, and anxiety).They measured greenness using the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), a widely used and reliable satellite-derived metric for assessing vegetation levels in a given area. Factors such as population levels, weather conditions, air pollutants, socioeconomic indicators, and seasonality were all taken into account. The models were stratified by sex, age, urbanisation, and season.They found that the overall protective associations were strongest in urban areas, where an estimated 7,712 hospital admissions for mental disorders annually were potentially preventable through greater exposure to greenness. The researchers also noted seasonal patterns, with climate and weather conditions playing a crucial role in how green spaces are used and perceived.In an urban setting, even a 10% increase in greenness was associated with fewer hospital admissions for mental disorders, ranging from around 1 per 100,000 in South Korea to approximately 1,000 per 100,000 in New Zealand.

“These mental health benefits may also bring broader economic and social advantages, including reduced healthcare costs, less strain on health systems, improved workplace productivity, and enhanced community well-being.

Future research should aim to explore the differential effects of various types of green spaces — such as parks or forests — on mental health outcomes, and focus on assessing the quality and accessibility of green spaces,” Professor Guo added.Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment, or before changing your diet or supplement regimen.