Green Infrastructure Improves Mental Health
By Sarah Jaclyn Hertrick-Mutter, MPA
Mental health problems have become a major cause of disease and disability worldwide. New data released in the State of Mental Health in America report shows that 19% of people in the United States are living with a mental health condition, a 1.5 million increase over last year’s report. There is an urgent need for accessible and cost effective infrastructures and interventions to promote and protect mental health. One possible solution: green spaces and green infrastructure. A growing body of research is showing that green spaces and infrastructure can play an important role in providing significant mental health benefits.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” -World Health Organization
What is Green Infrastructure?
Green infrastructure (GI) is the natural and built green spaces that use nature to manage a variety of challenges, including water quality, reducing flood risk, providing wildlife habitat, and improving air quality. Green infrastructure is an alternative to traditional “gray” stormwater infrastructure, trading pipes and storm drains for vegetation, soils, and other natural landscape features. Rain gardens, biowales, planter boxes and planting strips, urban tree canopies, and natural areas (such as wetlands and parks) all help to create sustainable and healthy communities.
Urbanization has increased the importance of green space and infrastructure. Over half the world’s population lives in urban areas where exposure to nature is scarce. Designing and including natural features into our built environment not only provides stormwater management, but also a variety of environmental, social, and economic benefits. Green infrastructure reduces exposure to harmful substances and conditions, provides an opportunity for recreation and physical activity, improves safety, promotes community identity and a sense of well-being, and provides economic benefits for communities and households. These benefits are all known to directly or indirectly benefit public health.
Green Infrastructure and Mental Health
Evidence shows a positive relationship between levels of green space and mental health and well-being. Time spent in natural environments correlates with decreased cortisol levels and other physical stress indicators. Even just viewing imagery of green spaces can measurably reduce stress and improve concentration. Other studies have shown that individuals living in areas with high levels of greenery have less anxiety, less depression, and increased feelings of tranquility.
Green space and infrastructure can also be especially beneficial for children. Time in green spaces positively correlates with improved cognitive development. Children that visit green space and other natural features demonstrate increased emotional resilience and self-regulation. Additionally, a study conducted in Denmark concluded that higher levels of green space in childhood is associated with a lower risk of a wide variety of psychiatric disorders from adolescence to adulthood.
Studies have also shown that urban trees in our green infrastructure also improves mental health. Time spent near trees promotes memory improvements, emotional resilience and overall mood, and is shown to decrease impulsive behavior. Tree canopies in neighborhoods also improve sleep for residents in that neighborhood.
There has been a large change over the last decades in the places we live and work. The majority of people now live in cities and our contact with nature largely depends on access to green spaces. Growing evidence shows that green spaces and green infrastructure not only provides an environmental service, but also vital health services. Their integration may provide a cost-effective public health intervention and should be considered as a significant resource for improving mental health in communities.
For more information about the mental health benefits from green spaces and infrastructure:
Green Infrastructure and Health; A Literature Review, Urban Green Spaces and Health; A review of evidence, and Residential green space in childhood is associated with lower risk of psychiatric disorders from adolescence into adulthood.
