Fun Fact Friday: Mental Health Awareness Month

It's fun fact Friday, and Mental Health Awareness month!

Did you know that nature can significantly boost our mental wellbeing?

Recent research conducted by King's College London, and released just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month 2024, sheds light on the profound impact of natural diversity on our mental health.

The study utilised the smartphone application Urban Mind to collect real-time reports on mental wellbeing and natural diversity from nearly 2000 participants.

The findings reveal that environments boasting a larger number of natural features are associated with greater mental wellbeing compared to those with fewer features. Remarkably, these positive effects can endure for up to eight hours after exposure.

This underscores the vital role of biodiversity in promoting mental health and highlights the need to rethink urban planning and green space management strategies. By moving away from heavily curated monocultural landscapes towards environments that mirror the richness of natural ecosystems, we can create healthier and more vibrant urban spaces.

Read more here.