Here’s Where You Should Live to Fight Depression and Anxiety, According to Science

Plants once again demonstrate their effects on depression and anxiety. According to a study published in The nature of mental healthLiving near green space will actively improve our mental health. Study co-author Yaohua Tian spoke about this. Medical Express : “We make the important finding that long-term exposure to residential greenery is associated with a reduced risk of depression and anxiety.”

Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China analyzed various profiles in a database based on volunteers in the United Kingdom. By removing patients suffering from severe depression and other chronic disorders, the scientists collected information on more than 400,000 people.

They conducted a cross-sectional study linking the distance between where they lived and any green space and their medical records, with a particular focus on signs of mental disorders. The result of the study? Britons who regularly visited green spaces suffered less from symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The influence of green spaces on the fight against environmental pollution is emphasized

According to Yaohua Tian, ​​”declining air pollution in greener areas likely plays an important role in this trend.” Indeed, plants have a real impact on the cleanliness of urban air. According to a study carried out by Asterès, large trees can store up to 5.4 tons of CO2 per year, as well as 20 kg of dust. In order of magnitude, this is the equivalent of releasing an Airbus A320 in 600 km.

This pollution will have an immediate impact on our physical and mental health. Because according to a 2019 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, even short-term exposure to air pollution “exacerbates existing inflammation in the brain caused by daily stressors, leading to symptoms [troubles de la] Mental health.”

A 2016 Finnish study went even further. The researchers claimed that it was immersion in the green zone that had an effect on breathing and mental state. One thing is for sure: everyone agrees to encourage us to visit more often these natural oases provided to us.