“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good indeed.”  The earth, the sky, the waters, the birds, the fish, the animals, the people…it was “very good indeed.” Not only was each aspect of creation individually “very good indeed,” but how each part interacted with and related to every other part was “very good indeed.” One of the “very good indeed” relationships we are learning more about today involves the relationship between nature and our mental health. For instance, a study taking place over 5 years and involving almost 2,000 participants who submitted 41,000 assessments, suggests that nature has many mental health benefits. This is not surprising as previous studies have shown that “urban dwellers” living near “green spaces” experience a 71% lower risk for anxiety and depression than those who do not live near green spaces. Another has showed that living near natural areas rich in plant and bird life reported fewer mental health issues, even after taking social and economic differences into account.

Still, this study suggested two additional points:

1. The benefits of experiencing a diverse natural environment last up to eight hours. To me, this means we need to get around nature everyday if possible.
2. The higher the natural diversity of plant and animal life in the “green space,” the greater the mental health benefits. The diversity of life seemed to add to the mental health benefits. The greater diversity offered more stimulation for the senses, which may improve concentration, reduce mental fatigue, and restore cognitive resources like memory and attention span. Diverse natural environments may also reduce pollutants and moderate temperatures. Such environments also encourage a more active lifestyle and promote socializing (unlike focusing on technology or my next scheduled activity). Active lifestyles and socialization promote endorphin release, lifting the mood.

A diverse natural environment does all this. The impact of nature on our mental health and well-being as well as our family’s mental health and well-being is “very good indeed.” Enjoy that “very good indeed” relationship between your family and nature. Take your family into natural settings as often as possible. Don’t just be a taker in this relationship. Reciprocate by treating the natural environment with respect and careful stewardship. Give back to nature by planting a tree with your family, putting up a bird feeder to expand the diversity of birds you might see, planting flowers and other plants that attract butterflies…you get the idea. As you and your family enjoy the “very good indeed” reciprocal relationship between nature and your family’s mental health, you and your family can enjoy the benefits of nature for generations to come.