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It's undeniable that trees and any kind of greenery calm people. This is why individuals seek the great outdoors and get close to nature as possible as a form of therapy or relaxation. Nature has a greater use, though. A research found that green spaces can lower people's depression risk.

A study conducted by Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) researchers found that middle-aged Scottish men living near a greener environment have a 16 percent lower death rate than their counterparts who reside in urban areas. Pregnant women living near nature also have healthier blood pressures and give birth to babies in good physical shape.

Living near green spaces also yield stronger self-esteem and mental health. Ecotherapy is the term used for the treatment programs designed to improve a person's physical and mental health through activities in nature.

A research from Mind, a mental health charity in England and Wales in the United Kingdom, found that ecotherapy can reduce people's depression, anger, anxiety and stress. The treatment also strengthens emotional resilience or the ability to adapt to nerve-wracking situations or crises.

Ecotherapy can help treat mild to moderate depression. Going outdoors in nature encourages people to do physical activities that improve their fitness and make them interact with their peers.

Social connection and being immersed in nature can eliminate feelings of loneliness and improve a person's overall mood. It's likely that being in nature with other people can lead to new friendships that can develop into long-term connections.

Depressive symptoms can be really hard to navigate through. The condition isn't simply sadness; it makes people feel empty, hopeless and worthless. In the majority of the cases, patients take antidepressant medicines to control their moods. Others undergo psychotherapies and brain stimulation therapies.

There are some tactics that depressed people can practice every day as coping mechanisms. It includes getting up at a specific time in the morning, making the bed, getting dressed, having a healthy breakfast, walking outside and adopting a pet, The Good Men Project listed.

Writing down your feelings can also help fight the condition, though it's best to avoid "ould" words such as 'should,' 'could' and 'would' because they can make the person feel guilty. It's better to use action or decision words like 'will' and 'won't.'

Depression affects more than 15 million adults (6.7 percent of the general population) in the United States, according to ADAA. The disorder usually occurs at 32 years old and is more rampant in women than in men.