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Parent Category: Advanced News Lessons

Category: Environment Lesons

Written by Chris Cotter

Ecotherapy is being touted as a new, more effective treatment against depression. Advocatesbelieve that it will offer real alternatives to the future of mental health treatments. Physicians would recommend ecotherapy in addition to or in lieu of drugs. Ecotherapy is described as getting outside and getting active in a green environment, all of which boosts mental health.

The University of Essex conducted the study. It compared people who walked thirty minutes in a country park with people who walked for a similar amount of time in a shopping mall. Among those participating in the country walk, 71% reported decreased levels of depression. Ninety percent indicated increased levels of self-esteem, too. This was in sharp contrast to the mall walkers. Only 45% experienced lesser levels of depression. Even worse, 22% actually felt more depressed after the stroll.

In the UK, where the study was conducted, recent statistics point to a massive surge in people prescribed anti-depressant medication. Doctors wrote more than 31 million prescriptions last year, which amounts to a 6% increase. The figures point to a grave future for the mental health of the nation, and it leaves experts worried.

A separate study revealed even more positive results, where a combination of nature and exercise benefited 90% of the participants. GPs need to understand that ecotherapy is a clinically proven option for improved mental health.