Nature & Health
"Our present ego-feeling is, therefore, only a shrunken residue of a much more inclusive — indeed, an all-embracing—feeling which corresponds to a more intimate bond between the ego and the world about it."
- Sigmund Freud
Modern research is starting to catch on to what indigenous groups have always understood: a strong connection with nature is vital to human wellbeing. It makes sense; this relationship is part and parcel with our genetic makeup, while it is a relatively new (and highly western) concept to separate humanity from the living world – one that has adverse effects on our own health, as well as to the ecosystem.
The escalating mental health crisis documented among young people appears only to grow alongside our simultaneous retreat from nature into progressively urban and online cultures. Rather than increasing technological advancements improving happiness, the reverse occurs.
Our behaviour is inextricably linked with our surroundings, and mental fatigue commonly arises these days from over-stimulation. We simply can’t keep up with the modern world – and we weren’t built to. The mental-physical connection is an important factor here, as stress negatively impacts the body and can make us ill, contributing to chronic conditions and life threatening disease. But connecting with nature, even looking onto greenery through a window, has been found to aid recovery in hospital patients compared to those without a view. Eco-psychology is a school of study that frames personal suffering within the context of the wider world, proposing that while our everyday outlook may be shaped by the narratives of modern life, the mind and body were originally formed in a natural environment, and it is the strength of this link that allows us to function (or not). This is epitomised by the rise of what’s called ‘Nature-deficit Disorder’, which attributes many behavioural problems—particularly in children—to less time out of doors.
The effects of this cultural shift to the Great Indoors has coincided with an increase in Attention-deficit and mood disorders reported among children and young people. Nature deprivation, owing both to the hours spent in front of screens and a lack of access , has been linked to depression, as well as decreased empathy and willingness to give back. Starker still, one 2011 study found that excessive screen-time was associated with a higher mortality risk – that’s aside from problems caused by physical inactivity.
A strong emotional attachment, or ‘connectedness’ with nature has been shown to positively impact health. Connectedness refers to the way we perceive nature personally, suggesting that beyond the quantity of time interacting with nature, it’s the quality that can really make an impression on our wellbeing. Research finds people who feel strongly connected to nature are happier and more likely to feel a sense of purpose in life, and this is good for health.
This nature-health connection goes both ways: nature has the power to heal and sustain us, just as an improved awareness of this bond often leads people to more mindful behaviour towards the planet. The greater connectedness we are able to foster, the better off we’ll all be. Essential to sustaining a healthy body and mind is a healthy attachment to the living environment — to life itself — and an ongoing, in-dwelling sense of the link between us.
