World Mental Health Day is recognized every year on October 10th but is something leaders globally are thinking about every day.
According to the World Health Organization, the mission of this day is to “raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.”
Every year, the World Federation for Mental Health sets a theme to set a spotlight on mental health issues. This year, 2022, the theme is to “make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority.”
At Gardenuity, we are on a mission to spread the ample wellness benefits of gardening to all, as well as improve the physical and mental health of people by allowing nature to nurture you.
We, along with the World Federation for Mental Health, believe in the importance of access to mental health care and resources for everyone.
In the state of the world today, mental health is more important than ever. We are constantly bombarded with upsetting news, toxic social media posts, and civil unrest that is difficult to be unaffected by and takes a serious mental toll.
Furthermore, destructive natural disasters, everyday stressors of relationships, work, and school, as well as internal issues we all have to work through can be strains to our wellbeing.
Let’s talk about it.
What is Mental Health?
By definition, mental health “includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.”
Every single person on the planet has or will experience the struggles that come along with mental health, and will continue to do so in some form throughout their life.
Luckily for us, mental health has become much more widely accepted, talked about, and there are more resources than ever before to provide a needed helping hand when life circumstances arise. Therapists, medication, gardening, journaling, and spending more time with nature are all great ways to help create a more balanced headspace.
The most important thing to remember when you are struggling is that you are not alone. There are friends, family, and professionals available to support you and guide you through the tough times that you experience.
How Can Gardening Help Mental Health?
So, what does Gardenuity have to do with mental health? At our core, Gardenuity is a wellness company above all else. We want to help you spread kindness to your mind and body through nature and the joys of growing.
The mere act of spending time outside can do wonders to decrease depression and rumination inside the brain. A study by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment compares the effect of being in nature versus being in urban spaces on the brain. Their findings showed that participants who took a 90 minute stroll through nature had “decreased activity in a region of the brain associated with a key factor in depression”, as compared to those who took a walk through an urban space.
Studies have been conducted that connect nature, and even more specific, gardening to an improvement in mental health conditions. Therapeutic gardens have been a staple in hospitals and prisons for years, and have been proven to greatly improve the lives of patients and inmates. How can the simple act of gardening be so beneficial to a person? Professors at the University of Alberta explain that gardening “combines physical activity with social interaction and exposure to nature and sunlight”.
Sunlight has the power to lower your blood pressure, which in turn lowers unproductive and upsetting rumination, therefore aiding a decrease in anxiety.
The mental health crisis is getting worse, and we stand in awe of the leaders and companies who have doubled down on resilience. Over the past 24 months we’ve seen 92% of companies expand support for mental health and well-being for their employees. They are meeting employees where they are and supporting them in real time. We are honored to grow these programs along side such extraordinary companies.
#growingtogether