Brazil faces significant mental health challenges, with one of the highest prevalences of anxiety in the world and the highest rate of depression in Latin America (as reported by the WHO and UN).
With this challenge in mind, researchers at São Paulo State University have explored how urban green spaces might provide a way to foster both physical and mental wellbeing. Dense urban environments often disconnect people from nature, yet this nature connection can provide vital mental health benefits. In this research the researchers aimed to evaluate the current use of urban green spaces and population wellbeing, alongside how future green spaces could be designed to respond to anxiety and depression issues. A survey of over 2,130 people explored frequency, duration, and intensity of nature interactions, along with mental health assessments using the DASS-21 scale.
“In pursuing this inquiry, the study recognizes the real and pressing challenges faced by urban residents in Brazilian metropolitan regions — challenges characterized by a mix of socio-economic disparities, environmental issues, and the pervasive mental health crisis.”
The results found that participants who regularly engaged with natural environments were less likely to report depressive symptoms. Although the difference between quite frequent and very frequent, and for a short or extended amount of time only had a small impact. It was generally found that engagement with nature every few days had a positive impact on reported depression and stress levels. Regular time spent in nature was found to lower stress, especially for women and young people. The research demonstrated that interventions should be carefully designed to encourage an overall regular engagement and to create opportunities for the type of activity to be a mix of high and low intensity in the natural environment. Public health initiatives and urban planning strategies can leverage these findings detailed in this paper by tailoring green space design and planning recommendations to foster consistent, moderate durations of nature engagement, and therefore enhance mental wellbeing across residents in the area.
The key recommendations are for high-intensity nature-based activities including multi-functional exercise areas, creating places for young adults to socialise and participate in activities, and amenities for shade and shelter. To facilitate people staying in green spaces for longer the paper recommends landscape design considerations towards family-friendly features, improving accessibility across different groups, providing different natural elements such as ponds and streams, the allocation of space for community gardens, and enabling events to bring people together in their local green space.
Overall this research found that urban green spaces are an important way to mitigate increasingly common mental health issues found in cities. Green spaces can be designed to improve mental and physical health for everyone by facilitating physical activities, leisure events, and nature-based recreation.
