Benefits Of Being Outdoors Depression - 907 Words

Essay 2: Benefits of Being Outdoors Depression is a devastating disorder, though one may find it hard to understand or take seriously. You can’t see it or touch it, but when it settles over you or your loved one, it can affect nearly every aspect of daily life. Depression can disable everything from waking up in the morning to going to work, even sleeping at night. Sufferers experience feelings of intense despair and hopelessness. Activities they used to find joy in no longer interest them and in some cases may lead to attempted suicide. Infact, Depression is the leading cause of medical disability worldwide and accounts for over 210 billion dollars each year in medical expenses and missed days of work. Antidepressants are prescribed at an all-time high and fail to consistently do better than placebo pills (Wittenborn, 551). I myself have experienced this first hand, shelling out money I didn’t have for antidepressants that had little to effect or just made my symptoms worse. However, emerging evidence focuses on an alternate therapy used in alleviating Depression, and it’s based in nature. Termed ‘ecotherapy’ by Mind, a charity group based in the UK that facilitated this research, ecotherapy is described as a whole range of green activities that can be beneficial to people’s mental health and well-being; things like gardening, cycling, and conservation (Jackson, 8). Professor Jules Pretty, Head of the Department of Biological Research at the University of Essex described aShow MoreRelatedMental Health Issues And Levels Of Participation1725 Words   |  7 PagesLiving in a state of positive, stable mental health benefits individuals in all areas of life. Attaining a positive state of mental health seems simple enough, but can be difficult when juggling many different responsibilities and leading a busy life. As the modern world becomes more and more reliant on technology, and an increasing number of occupations require employee s to sit at a desk for long hours, there is a need to remedy the stress that is associated with these â€Å"desk jobs.† This report addressesRead MoreAlternative Medicines For Complementary And Integrative Health1561 Words   |  7 PagesMental Illness stated that 16 million adults deal with depression each year (â€Å"Mental†). Depression is a common mental health disorder that people can acquire in today’s society. There are many forms of depression that exist ranging from mild to very severe. Some of those forms include major depression, seasonal affective disorder, postpartum depression, psychotic depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder. Many individuals with depression try to treat their illness by relying on antidepressantsRead MoreThe Health Of A Landscape1282 Words   |  6 Pagesphysical surroundings can have an impact on their overall health. With a contemporary cultural emphasis on healthy living, land planners including urban designers and lan dscape architects have unique opportunities to integrate health into our everyday outdoor spaces. In a publication written by Landscape Institute, a Royal Chartered Institute for Landscape Architects and land planners, there are 5 essential principles that contribute to the success of a ‘healthy landscape’. Principle 1 â€Å"Healthy placesRead MoreThe Effects Of Social Cognitive Theory On The Behavior Of Veterans With Ptsd And Other Psychological Health Issues1252 Words   |  6 PagesNatural environments and outdoor settings are common places people go when they want to relax or temporarily escape life’s problems. Most often, when choosing where to vacation, people commonly select a destination with picturesque sceneries or serene landscapes. For this reason, natural outdoor settings seem like an ideal place to incorporate recreational therapy activities for those with physical and mental health issues. Recreational therapists should consider several aspects of their patientsRead MoreHow Technology Has Changed Children1466 Words   |  6 Pagesmaking it easier for them to be less active outdoors than before. Children s Outdoor activities were created by companies to help children be active and learn teamwork skills. For example soccer, basketball, baseball, and football have it so that children in the city or country can participate in outdoor fun and help them to become social and a good team member. This has helped because it gets the children out of the house and off electronics. Outdoor activities were also created to help childrenRead MoreBeyond Blue Is An Australian1300 Words   |  6 PagesBeyond blue is an Australian, independent non- profit organisation which endeavors to address issues in association with depression, related mental disorders and anxiety disorders. Established in the year 2000, the organisation creates mentally healthy environments, which aim to support a diverse range of individuals across the lifespan. Additionally, Beyond blue have developed more than three hundred information resources which can be accessed online or via their support service. This ini tiativeRead MoreThe Effects Of Nature On Children s Health1536 Words   |  7 Pagesto become more healthier because of the constant exposure to green space. However, this is not completely true. Children in both urban and rural areas can develop health issues, but one way of reducing the chances of escalating health problems from being unhealthy is to be exposed to the nature. Nature will affect the development of children s health in many beneficial ways. It is important for children to become connect with the nature during their childhood years because this is the most importantRead MoreThe Health Benefits of Nature Essay1152 Words   |  5 Pages Allowing children to regularly explore and experience nature can lead to positive health benefits including lowering the risk of childhood obesity, reducing allergies, and improving mental health. Through nature children experience more physical activity than indoor entertainment which can combat childhood obesity. While in nature a child’s body can adapt to allergies and eventually become immune. Lastly nature can help to improve a child’s overall mental health. Unfortunately interactions withRead MoreRecreational Sports Research1552 Words   |  7 PagesReferences Boettcher, M.L. Gansemer-Topf, A.M. 2015. Examining leadership development through student leader outdoor recreation training. Recreational sports journal. 39, 49-58. Doi: 10.1123/rsj.2014-0034 In this article, the researchers are looking on at how outdoor training trips helped students develop their leadership identity, and the factors that were present. With the use of interviews, they created a qualitative study in which student trip leaders reflected from their time on a trainingRead MoreWatching Tv And Play Video Games1621 Words   |  7 Pages(Diagnose-Me) Another study was done in Minnesota to determine if there was a connection between lack of exercise and depression. Contestants were asked if they got 20- 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week; they also took a standard test for adolescent depression. Top levels of physical activity at the start of the seventh grade were tied to lower levels of depression at the same point, and increased activity over the next 2 years was associated with reduced depressive symptoms at the