RESEARCH
People and Green Spaces: Promoting Public Health and Mental Well‐Being Through Ecotherapy
Summary
This research explores how spending time in green spaces, like parks and gardens, can positively affect people’s health and well-being. The paper highlights different ways that green spaces help—such as lowering stress, encouraging physical activity, and giving people a chance to connect with nature. It also points out that people who live near or have easy access to green areas tend to be healthier overall. The benefits were especially noticeable for people dealing with mental health challenges or those living in urban environments with limited nature access.
The paper also discusses the social advantages of green spaces, like improving community connections and offering a peaceful environment for reflection or relaxation. It emphasizes that access to green spaces isn’t equally available to everyone and calls for action to make nature more accessible—especially in poorer neighborhoods. The researchers suggest that city planning and health policies should include more support for green spaces because they can improve public health in a low-cost, natural way.
