The Happiness Index is very proud to be a part of the Mental Health Awareness Week. Our mission is to empower people to live the Freedom to Be Human. All humans are capable of maintaining their mental health. It all depends on many interrelated factors. While genetics play an important role in a person’s mental health and well-being, environmental factors can also play a significant role in enhancing or decreasing mental ill-health. I don’t think you need me to remind you that the environment in which you work can have a significant impact on your mental health.
This year’s theme for mental health awareness week is “nature”. Their website has tons of interesting stats on the positive effects that nature can have on mental health. It suffices to say that spending time in nature can increase mood, creativity, and decrease hospitalizations.
THE NATURAL HELP AND THE SCIENCE BEHIND
Research has shown that everything, from the sounds of nature (such as birdsong) to the smells of the natural world (such as flowers and cut grass), can be linked to better mental health. For generations, the Japanese practice of “forest bathing,” has been used to ground people. Scientists now know that forest walks have a positive effect on your mental and physical health.
You don’t have to spend days in nature to reap the benefits. Study like this one, 2017, shows that simply taking the time to appreciate and notice nature in your daily life can have a positive impact on your mental health.
This research is still in its infancy. Recent research has focused on the effects of a specific bacteria found in soil. Researchers believe that the bacteria acts in the brain in the same way as Prozak.
Expert in this field, Professor Christopher Lowry commented:
It is believed that humans have moved from farming and hunter-gatherer lifestyles to cities and have lost contact with organisms who helped regulate our immune system and reduce inflammation. This has made us more susceptible to inflammatory diseases and stress-related mental disorders.
We can see the magnitude of the impact of tiny organisms when we consider the millions of bacteria that we are exposed to every day. Professor Lowry said, “We are only beginning to see the tip if the iceberg” in terms of identifying how bacteria evolved to keep our health. It should be a source of amazement for all.
These beneficial bacteria are more likely to be in contact with us when we are outside, in nature, touching trees or digging in soil. The bacteria might be less useful if we are in sterile offices.
LIMITS TO SELF-CARE
Some people have very poor or chronic mental health. If this is the case, then spending time outdoors in nature won’t help. We believe in breaking down any stigmas around seeking professional help. If your doctor recommends, you can also take medication. We recommend that you contact trusted organizations such as Mind at 0300 123 3393, Samaritans at 116 123, or their website if you feel you require professional support.
BRINGING NATURE TO YOUR ORGANIZATION
Biophilia is a term that describes the relationship between nature and work. It’s the basis of a whole school. Erich Fromm, in The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (1973), first coined the term biophilia. He defined it as “the passionate love of all things alive and of life.” Numerous studies have shown that nature can be brought into buildings through natural materials and planting. These methods can produce similar results to spending time outside.
Tabitha James, Lead Coach at Earthself and Director, actively tries to incorporate the lessons from nature into their workplace. Truth is, happiness can extend beyond the workplace. Sometimes the workplace can extend out into the natural world. This is not a matter of getting everyone out of the office, and then doing trust exercises in the forest. It’s about integrating nature into your daily life.
Many offices are now including green spaces around their buildings or indoor gardens. While this is a great start, Tabitha believes that it doesn’t go far enough. Tabitha wants to see more organizations create space and time in their work lives to enjoy and appreciate nature. It is important to create systems that allow people to connect with nature, to find its beauty, and to spend time in the outdoors.
This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. It’s important to ensure that your team takes enough breaks and is finished on time so they can get out and about while there’s still daylight. To help employees make the most of the warmer weather, some companies offer summer hours. You can also have meetings outdoors, in a park, green space or walking. This is especially true for video calls and phone meetings that can be kept casual.
NO BLANKET SOLUTIONS
Although we can offer many solutions, not all ideas will work for every organization or individual. It is important to find solutions that work for you and your team. Because they are not all practical or relevant, you won’t have the ability to apply all of the suggestions we’ve provided. Some solutions might work for your team, but others may not. A solution that works today might not work tomorrow, due to the changing circumstances and lives of people.
We recommend listening to your team to learn how to help them get in touch with nature in a way that suits their needs and lifestyle. This can be done on an ongoing basis with our platform. Our wellbeing survey will allow you to understand the current state of your team’s wellbeing and help you to identify what improvements they would like.