Green Thumbs, Healthy Mind: A Collection of Green Mental Health Resources
By Lucia Ene-Lesikar and Hannah Temme
It’s long been acknowledged that being in nature can greatly improve our mental health, but with most of us being stuck inside for most of the time it can feel difficult to access. So, we have compiled a list of resources to help you reconnect with nature and tend to your own wellbeing.
Gardening and being in nature has been known to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, it seems like getting away from it all really does work, so if you can get outside, we’d strongly recommend it. However, given that we’re all in lockdown at the moment it's useful to know that even looking at pictures of nature can help lift your mood, or maybe get a houseplant to keep you company, succulents or cacti are very low maintenance.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
BLOG/ARTICLES/WEBSITES
We found some really interesting articles/blog posts all about the benefits of being outside and interacting with nature, particularly on your mental health.
Green Therapy: How gardening is helping to fight depression
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/13/green-therapy-gardening-helping-fight-depression
Impact of Gardening on Mental Health
https://healthymindsphilly.org/blog/impact-of-gardening-on-mental-health/
The Benefits of Gardening & Horticulture Therapy Support Well-Being - we especially love the bit about ‘getting our hands dirty’ and the microbiota in soil
Forest Bathing - (don’t worry not literally!)
https://www.forestryengland.uk/blog/forest-bathing
The RHS (Royal Horticulture Society) has some great articles on mental health.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Search?query=mental%20health
If you’re on instagram (as a lot of us are I’m sure) why not get your daily dose of serotonin! These accounts really do make us want to live in a greenhouse!
@Planet Mindful - Don’t forget to check out their magazine too!
https://www.instagram.com/planetmindfulmag/
@robgmacfarlane - he’s a writer, but his insta account is just comforting and gentle and simply an account for appreciating nature, no politics, no ego.
https://www.instagram.com/robgmacfarlane/
@actionhappiness - Okay. admittedly this isn’t strictly about gardening, but we like it anyway. https://www.instagram.com/actionhappiness/
@treesnpeace - why don’t you check out her podcast while you’re at it https://www.instagram.com/treesnpeace/
@coralsandbees - Beautiful account dedicated to intersectional environmentalism https://www.instagram.com/coralsandbees/
@the _hillwalking_hijabi - If you need some inspiration to get outside
https://www.instagram.com/the_hillwalking_hijabi/
YOUTUBE
If you fancy watching something instead, these are some great videos. Some are more about the benefits of plants, but there are also tips and tricks for how you can get started looking after them.
Mental Health Benefits of Plants | Horticultural Therapy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BqRGt0T8jI
Your Brain on Plants: Why Gardens Are Good For You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK9mM5VFJvM
How To Care For Indoor Plants + GREENIFY YOUR SPACE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWYiMcH0cRc
Forest Bathing Playlist - Soak up the sights and sounds of the forest from home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Ilf7u9ZcY&list=PLGkoHMoA3GooGCnn0g_FtxpG5rHzfEyTI&index=2
BOOKS/MAGAZINES
If you fancy stuck in and tackling something more detailed, these books and magazines are a great place to start, and if you can buy them ethically even better!
Resurgence & Ecologist Magazine
https://www.resurgence.org/magazine/
Your Wellbeing Garden - A beautiful little book about how to make your very own wellbeing garden. It has some really great tips about using trees to block sound, how water can be incorporated for relaxation and how certain herbs and flowers can have a relaxing effect. Well worth a read!
Roots: The Eco-Journal
This is an amazing book for your own self reflection and how writing and looking after house plants can help our mental health!
https://www.waterstones.com/book/roots/bernadette-mcbride/vahid-davar/9781838530044
The Art of Mindful Gardening - The snails loved Hannah’s copy!
CLIMATE ANXIETY
Lastly, we have some resources about climate anxiety. it’s a real thing, we’ve found these resources really powerful.
The Work That Reconnects - they have all sorts of amazing workshops, written work, community groups and exercises
https://workthatreconnects.org/
A field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet (we’ve linked to an article all about the book)
https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-10-30/climate-anxiety
You can also find some great stuff on @XR on Instagram all about climate grief.
We hope this has inspired you to find a little bit of green in your life, happy growing!
RESOURCES
If you need further help you can contact the following resources below.
Papyrus
Young suicide prevention society.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (9am to midnight, every day of the year)
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Website: www.mind.org.uk
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255 (TALK)