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A recent study by King's College London researchers sheds light on the profound influence of natural diversity on mental well-being.

Published in Scientific Reports, the study utilized the Urban Mind smartphone application to gather real-time data on mental well-being and natural diversity from nearly 2,000 participants.

The findings indicated that spaces featuring a variety of natural elements, such as trees, birds, plants and waterways, were associated with stronger improvements in mental well-being compared to environments with limited natural features.

The study, conducted between April 2018 and September 2023, involved participants completing over 41,000 assessments using the Urban Mind app.

Each participant provided data on their surrounding environment and reported their mental health status through a series of assessments conducted three times daily over two weeks.

According to the study's results, nearly a quarter of the positive effects of nature on mental health could be attributed to the diversity of natural features present in the environment.

This showed the importance of implementing policies and practices that support the richness of nature and species diversity, benefiting both the environment and public mental health.

Senior author Andrea Mechelli, Professor of Early Intervention in Mental Health at IoPPN, stressed the urgency of recognizing biodiversity as vital infrastructure within urban areas, particularly in the face of climate change and rapid declines in biodiversity globally.

"Our results suggest that biodiversity is critical not only for the health of our natural environments but also for the mental well-being of the people who live in these environments, " Mechelli explained, Medical Express reported.

"It is time to recognize that biodiversity brings co-benefits for planetary and human health and needs to be considered vital infrastructure within our cities."

The study's findings provide compelling evidence for the integration of biodiversity conservation efforts into urban planning and development, underscoring the multifaceted benefits of biodiverse natural spaces for human health and environmental sustainability.

Lead author Ryan Hammoud, a Research Assistant at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, also noted the novelty of the study, which explored the impact of natural diversity on mental health in everyday contexts.

"This means moving away from heavily curated monocultural pockets and parks of mown grass, which are typically associated with low biodiversity, towards spaces which mirror the biodiversity of natural ecosystems," Hammoud added.

"By showing how natural diversity boosts our mental well-being, we provide a compelling basis for how to create greener and healthier urban spaces."