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April 22, 2020
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Earth Day: Mental health and the natural world

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Each year, April 22 is recognized as Earth Day an observance held to highlight support and raise awareness for environmental protection.

In conjunction with this observance, Healio Psychiatry has compiled a list of articles covering recent developments in research regarding links between natural environments and mental health.

Researchers report association between nature-based greenness at schools and ADHD

Natural green environments surrounding schools may reduce ADHD symptoms in young children, according to study results published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

Climate change poses large-scale threat to mental health

A large body of evidence supports the findings that environmental stressors produced by climate change negatively impact human mental health.

Using meteorological data plus sampling data from almost 2 million U.S. residents across a 10-year span, researchers found that both hotter temperatures and added precipitation worsen mental health. Read more.

 
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Environmental pollution tied to increased risk for psychiatric disorders

Study findings published in PLOS Biology indicated that air pollution was significantly linked to increased risk for psychiatric disorders in the United States and Denmark. Read more.

Spending 2 hours in nature each week benefits health, well-being

Individuals who spent 120 minutes or more in natural environments — such as parks, woodlands and beaches — in a week had consistently higher levels of both health and well-being than those who reported no exposure, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. Read more.

Air pollution exposure may increase risk for depression, suicide

Higher levels of air pollution exposure may be associated with increased rates of depression and death by suicide among those exposed, according to results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Read more.