Experts recommend visiting the parks about three times a week.
Researchers in Finland have found that visiting parks and other green areas reduces the need for antidepressants. The Guardian writes about it.
Experts recommend visiting the parks about three times a week. In addition to mental health issues, such walks can also help normalize blood pressure and help treat asthma, the researchers noted.
What else is known:
Scientists conducted a study based on a survey of 16,000 residents of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa aged 25 and over, who were randomly selected. Respondents were asked to say:
- about the frequency of visiting parks or other green areas that are within a radius of 1 km from their homes;
- about the effect of walking in the parks on taking drugs for insomnia, mental disorders and asthma.
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According to the study, health problems are linked to urban residents’ lack of access to green spaces. At the same time, the least affluent people experience the most noticeable effect from visiting parks.
“The growing body of scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of nature is likely to increase the amount of green space in the urban environment. (…) This could be one way to improve health and well-being in cities,” the scientists stressed.
