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A study has uncovered how urban green spaces affect mental health. 

Using data from Texas Hospital Outpatient Public Use Data Files from 2014 to 2019 and NatureScore, a metric assessing urban greenness, researchers analyzed 61,391,400 adult outpatient encounters in Texas cities. 

NatureScore, ranging from Nature Deficient (0-19 points) to Nature Utopia (80-100 points), provided insights into the quality and quantity of natural elements in various locations.

The study found that as the NatureScore of a neighborhood increased, rates of mental health encounters decreased. Neighborhoods with NatureScores over 60 exhibited approximately 50% lower rates of mental health encounters compared to those with lower scores. Areas categorized as Nature Rich and Utopia had significantly lower mental health encounter rates.

The researchers highlighted the potential urban planning implications of the study's findings. Increasing green spaces within cities could promote well-being and mental health, particularly crucial given that over 22% of the U.S. adult population experiences mental health disorders.

Urban living and mental health

Today, more and more people are embracing urban living, but it can negatively impact mental health. High population density, noise pollution and air pollution can increase stress levels and contribute to anxiety and depression. Despite the population density, social isolation may also be prevalent. This is why having diverse opportunities for mental health improvement is essential in these areas.

In a similar study from earlier this year, researchers discovered that slight variations in urban green and blue spaces significantly affect the well-being of older adults. They found strong links between increased forest areas, greenery, and water bodies in residential areas and better health. A 10% rise in forest area corresponded to reduced psychological distress, and similar increases in green spaces or water bodies correlated with better general health reports.