Ecotherapy proves to be effective for healthier mental health: Know more

A four-year project led by University College London found that teenagers are missing out on the benefits of “social prescribing”, as described by the National Health Service in England as an approach that connects people to activities, groups and services in their community to meet their practical, social and emotional needs.

“The benefits of gardening really are prodigious,” says Adam Griffin, head of occupational therapy at Camali Clinic, a centre for child and adolescent mental health in the UAE. “Not only can the exertions involved in digging, weeding, planting and pruning help your physical health, but they can also have a very positive impact on your mental health.”

Some benefits of horticulture therapy, also known as ecotherapy:

1. Feeling in control – Gardening provides a sense of control and contributes to emotional stability. Monitoring plant care fosters confidence and clarity, particularly beneficial for those overwhelmed by emotions.
2. Forming meaningful connections: Biophilia drives our innate desire to connect with living things. In 2003, occupational therapist and researcher Jon Fieldhouse, from the University of the West of England, Bristol, published a paper about the plant-person relationship that showed people have a “fascination” with plants. A meaningful connection results in improved mood and concentration, and as the relationship flourishes, it helps people to focus on their skills, rather than their deficits.
3. Boosting happy hormones: Exposure to green spaces reduces stress hormone cortisol levels, promoting relaxation and well-being. Gardening serves as a positive escape from modern stressors, enhancing serotonin and dopamine levels through physical activity dating to as far as 1983.. Even Sigmund Freud spoke of the relaxing benefits of gardening, saying: ‘Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts.’ No matter your age, it can be a time when you leave your worries behind. All the bills, exams, deadlines and a thousand other daily responsibilities we have can be left at the proverbial garden gate.”
4. Outlet to vent: Gardening offers a controlled environment for releasing anger or frustration. Activities like weeding allow emotional expression without guilt, contributing to emotional balance. “You need to be destructive to be constructive in a garden, without feeling any guilt or confusion over it,” adds Malati Jagasia, a child psychologist based in Mumbai.
5. Reaping the rewards: Growing plants fosters a sense of accomplishment and ownership. As plants thrive, so does the gardener’s confidence, reinforcing a feeling of belonging and pride. Anne Love, author of ¬Gardening in Oman and the UAE, says: “When you invest time and effort into growing plants, you feel a sense of ownership and pride, and this helps you feel you belong to a place – a rewarding experience.” Griffin adds: “Engagement in a meaningful activity is a prerequisite for good mental health. Gardening is a perfect example. Whether this is a small window box, a patch of herbs or a large back garden, a little time spent getting your hands dirty can be a fruitful investment.”
6. Fighting fit: Gardening promotes physical health through outdoor activity, sun exposure, and exercise. It stimulates the brain by engaging the non-dominant hand and exposes individuals to immunity-building elements like vitamin D and beneficial soil bacteria.
7. Stable enviro-nment: “The demands of modern society, and meeting the expectations of peers and superiors, can be a source of much distress, especially for those who are already struggling with wayward emotions,” says Jagasia.Plants are much less frightening and challenging than people, and provide an escape route from our own thoughts, as well as other people’s judgments.
8. Attention restoration: Gardening aligns with the attention restoration theory developed by psychology professors Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, balancing directed attention with fascination. It serves as a mental refuge, combating stress-induced fatigue and restoring cognitive function.
   Fascination is dominant in natural environments such as gardens, which have restorative qualities that affect our concentration levels, memory and problem-solving abilities. “The higher your attention span, the more able you are to live in the present, which is a crucial requirement for overall emotional health,” says Jagasia.
   (BBC News)