Nature and Mental Health

Disclaimer:

This blog does not replace medical advice or treatment. This content is provided as general knowledge and may be used for wide-ranging self-improvement purposes.

This educational resource provides mental health information from a mental health professional and is not considered a medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. I am a therapist by training but this blog does not create a client-therapist relationship (I am not YOUR therapist).

If you are in urgent crisis, go the the ER, local health clinic, or call the suicide hotline: 988.

Consult with your healthcare providers about any changes or concerns regarding your lifestyle or health. Make changes to your health under the discretion of your medical provider. Using information from this website may have benefits and risks to health.

Time in nature benefits mental health and physical benefits (Bettmann, Speelman, Jolley, & Casucci (2025).

Some of the benefits nature provides include:

• better sleep quality
• decrease in mental illness symptoms (such as anxiety and depression)
• reduce anger
• decrease fatigue
• and improve cognitive functioning

(Bettmann et al., 2025)

While mental health benefits from nature can be obtained in 10-minutes for people with mental health issues, researchers include: “the more time, the better” (Bettmann et al., 2025). 

Bettmann et al. (2025) suggest that one-time nature exposure has less effect than repeated exposure to nature. That might look like getting outside for 30-minutes three days a week, instead of 4-hours outside one day a month.

Mental health benefits can be achieved from nature any time of year. Read more about positive mental health during winter: Ways to Improve Mental Health in Winter 

About the Author:

Nicole Zegiestowsky, M.S.

Nicole is a pre-licensed online therapist providing individual and group counseling services to adults in Alaska. Read more about Nicole's professional background, qualifications, and services:

Online Therapy in Alaska Stellar Insight Counseling 

References:

Bettmann, J. E., Speelman, E., Jolley, A., & Casucci, T. (2025). A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effect of Nature Exposure Dose on Adults with Mental Illness. Behavioral Sciences, 15(2), 153. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020153