Environmentalism for Mental Health

Our environment has a huge impact on our wellbeing. From climate change to pollution, all of these things affect our psychological and emotional state. Not to mention these issues are further compounded by often disturbing statistics on major news outlets making it easy to feel overwhelmed.

Things like excessive noise in the office, lack of ventilation and green spaces are just some of the many things that affect our wellbeing at work. In this guide, you’ll leave understanding how your environment has an impact and what can be done to allow nature to support our mental health.

How does the environment affect my mental health?

Ever been in a room that’s felt a bit ‘stuffy’? It’s likely had an impact on the air quality, and consequently your mood. It’s important to identify what may be contributing to poor environmental spaces and ways to rectify them for a healthier atmosphere.

Green Spaces

Natural green spaces have a direct impact on our mood. In fact, the National Institute for Health and Care Research found in their study that a 10% increase in access to green and blue spaces was linked with a 7% reduction in risk of anxiety and depression

Blue Spaces

The same can be said for blue spaces – such as bodies of water. Think fountains, lakes and rivers. Better (Charitable Social Enterprise) agree too – having found that 1 in 2 out of the 2,000 people they surveyed across the UK reporting better mental health when spending time at blue spaces.

Urbanisation

High-rises and new developments seem to be popping up everywhere these days and unfortunately, some of them negatively impact green spaces by drastically reducing their availability altogether. This is why it’s important to have added or ‘man-made’ green and/or blue spaces where possible, whether that’s considered in the landscaping process or as part of a workplace’s décor.

Air Quality

We touched on air quality previously. No one likes a stuffy or smelly environment to work in, so ensuring clean air at ample temperature is crucial. The British Journal of Psychiatry has documented that air pollutants may lead to psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychoses, and even neurocognitive disorders, such as dementia. One of the many risk factors included a lack of access to green spaces.

Climate change

Climate change anxiety is very much alive. According to the Office of National Statistics, 62% of UK people over the age of 16 are worried that rising temperatures will directly affect them by 2030. More worryingly, another study found increased temperatures and air pollution has been linked to increased suicide risks and completion.

Natures healing touch

Spending time in nature – whether that be in green or blue spaces – is a great way to lessen the effects of stress, anxiety and depression. It’s especially important if you work long hours indoors or behind a screen. In fact, government data even found that 85% of people in the UK report elevated feelings of happiness when in nature!

Connecting with nature in a meaningful way

So how can we connect with nature in a way that’s meaningful and intentional?

• Explore – if you have a local park, wide open green space or lake you can wander around, this can make all the difference. You can also double up on other ways to connect with nature in these places, such as by bird watching and discovering the types of wildlife and fauna on display.

• Gardening – if you work from home and have a garden, now could be a great time to pick up a new hobby. No garden? No problem! Indoor and vertical gardens are all the craze lately.

• Listen – the sound of the wind brushing through the streams, or the sound of a river flowing can all be ways to evoke a sense of calm in times of stress.

How can you develop your connection with nature?

Find nature wherever you are

Whether it’s right outside your door or a short distance away, making the effort to find and be in nature can do wonders for our mental wellbeing. Try observing these spaces at different times of day to discover birdsong or simply observe how nature looks in dawn or dusk.

Use your senses

Immersing as many of your senses in nature can be a fantastic way to deepen your connection with it. Consider laying in the grass, walking barefoot, dipping your feet in water (provided it’s safe to!), or simply listening to the sound of nature moving around you.

Bring nature indoors

If the weather is harsh or you’re a little under the weather, wandering into nature may be the furthest thing from your mind. Why not have a small haven of nature in your workplace or home instead? Whether that’s a small succulent or a shelf full of your favourite plants, just admiring the nature indoors can work wonders. Not keen? You can connect with nature through video of sound recordings of popular nature sights and sounds. Our Wisdom app has a library full of meditative sounds that are great for nature immersion.

How we can manage the mental health impacts of climate change?

Acknowledge how you feel

Having anxieties and fears around climate change are all completely valid. Normalise how you feel and take steps to accept it rather than change it.

Talk it out

It’s important to share how you feel with others, as verbalising your thoughts may resonate with another person who may be able to offer a listening ear. Discussion forums and eco-based organisations are great places to seek advice and express your concerns too, particularly as these are like-minded spaces you can find people to discuss your issues with.

Focus on the things you can control

From managing your mental health to making small changes to how you go about your day, you can make eco-conscious choices to minimise your carbon footprint.

Seek advice from a professional

Sometimes we need professional intervention if our thoughts are reducing our quality of living. Our employee assistance programme offers counselling sessions that are solutions-focused, to tackle your immediate issues and provide you with health coping strategies. Plus, it’s available 24/7 all-year round when you need it.

Wisdom App and EAP

So how does our Wisdom APP and EAP have a part to play in environmentalism for your mental health?

The Wisdom app is perfect for logging your daily mood and wellbeing – meaning if you are experiencing the negative effects of climate change on particular days, you can log your moods to identify patterns. Plus, our app has access to a variety of articles – including sustainability-conscious ones for those who take a special interest in the environment.

When the going gets tough, or you want to keep on top of your mental wellbeing, our guided meditations and soundscapes are perfect to listen to everyday. They’re especially great to listen to if you’re out in nature already!

Conclusion

Environmentalism can really benefit our mental health. Many factors in our environment play a part in it, after all. That’s why it’s important to explore the many avenues that can connect you to nature – such as taking a walk in green spaces and generally immersing yourself in as much nature as you can. While we can’t directly change the effects of climate change, we can control our reaction to it to keep our mental wellbeing in check. Even when it’s not possible, simulating nature through sight and sounds (which you can use the Wisdom app for!) work as a great alternative, as well as talking about how you feel with your friends or counsellor.