Natural Health Service

An increasing number of studies have found that people with access to nearby nature are generally healthier than those without, and that natural  spaces, large or small, provide real and measurable health benefits.  This 'Natural Health Service' is a hugely important  and the NHS has a role to ensure that these services are not only utlised, but protected and enhanced for the health of the entire community, today and into the future.

Some facts & figures...physical health:

An Australian review of the empirical, theoretical and anecdotal evidence concluded that contact with nature specifically impacts positively on blood pressure, cholesterol, outlook on life and stress reduction. An influential US study concluded that the risk of heart disease in men is halved by walking 1.5 miles a day. And in England, the Chief Medical Officer reports that walking between 6 and 12 miles a week can reduce the risk of premature death by 20 to 30%.

In the South West, a study undertaken by the Universities of Bristol and East, supported by Natural England, found that ‘people who perceive easy access to safe green spaces report higher green space use, more regular physical activity and lower risk of obesity. Therefore, access to safe and convenient green space is likely to be an important environmental factor in public health efforts aimed to promote physical activity and reduce obesity’.

The simple explanation is that people are more active if they live within or near to an attractive natural environment, whether through activities such as gardening, jogging, cycling, family outings to a park, or simply going for a walk.

The Sustainable Development Commission has reviewed the importance of the natural environment - everything from open countryside to parks and gardens - to promoting good health. Research shows that contact with the natural environment can help prevent both physical and mental ill-health, and facilitate recovery by:

• improving mood eg. through walks in green spaces;
• promoting physical activity and health, eg. through 'green' exercise programmes;
• increasing social contact and building social capital by using green space; assisting recovery from stress, eg. By gardening;
• contributing to children's development; eg. outdoor activities can improve symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder;
• assisting personal development, resilience and sense of purpose;
• assisting patient recovery following health service procedures, such as surgery, through a view of gardens or trees;
• improving the care of older people, including those with mental health problems (through increased social interaction) and with dementia (by helping to reduce agitation).

...Mental well-being:

The cost of mental ill health in the UK is approaching £100 billion a year with estimates predicting that by 2020 depression will be second only to heart disease as an international health problem. In the UK 1 in 4 people will experience mental distress during their lifetime.

Every year in Britain:

• 300 people in every 1,000 will experience mental health problems
• 230 of these will visit a GP because of mental health problems
• 102 of these will be diagnosed as having a mental health problem
• 24 of these will be referred to a specialist psychiatric service
• 6 of these will become inpatients in psychiatric hospitals (over 300,000 per year)
• Over 4,000 people take their own lives.
• 10 per cent of children aged five to 15 experience mental distress including:
  • emotional disorders (depression, anxiety and obsessions)
  • hyperactivity (inattention and over-activity)
  • conduct disorders (awkward, troublesome, aggressive and antisocial behaviour).

People with mental health problems are some of the most socially excluded, isolated, and disadvantaged people in society, facing higher levels of stigma and discrimination. Compared with people with a physical illness, people with a diagnosed mental health condition are less likely to have a job or to be re-employed after experiencing an episode of mental distress.

The natural environment and access to green spaces has also been found to benefit mental well-being as the human response to nature includes feelings of pleasure and interest and a reduction in anger and anxiety.

Another positive impact is the restorative and stress reducing benefit nature and green spaces give. Chronic stress has also been linked to heart disease, depression and diabetes. The Chief Medical Officer for England states that ‘Physical activity is effective in the treatment of clinical depression and can be as successful as psychotherapy or medication’. And the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that patients with mild depression follow a structured and supervised exercise programme, including led health walks, of up to three sessions per week.

MIND, the leading mental health charity for England and Wales, released its Ecotherapy report in May 2007. The report showed that people experiencing mental distress frequently use physical activities such as walking, gardening and exercise to help lift their mood, reduce stress, provide purpose and meaning, and reduce vulnerability to depression. These simple activities can develop motivation and raise self-esteem, while contact with other people can reduce isolation, provide support and help improve social skills. A greener, more active lifestyle aids positive changes to our mental health.