Kids who grow up in green spaces are less likely to experience mental health problems later.

Aarhus University researchers studied nearly one million people, comparing the amount of green space surrounding their childhood homes with the risk of developing a mental illness later in life.

The study found that children surrounded by more green space had up to a 55% lower risk of developing a mental illness as an adult. This effect held even after researchers adjusted for other known risk factors like a family history of mental illness.

This study demonstrates that green spaces have a positive effect on mental health. Researchers say it emphasizes the need for designing greener communities in the future.

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Taylor Bennett

Taylor Bennett

Taylor Bennett is the Content Development Manager at Thriveworks. She devotes herself to distributing important information about mental health and wellbeing, writing mental health news and self-improvement tips daily. Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism, with minors in professional writing and leadership from Virginia Tech. She is a co-author of Leaving Depression Behind: An Interactive, Choose Your Path Book and has published content on Thought Catalog, Odyssey, and The Traveling Parent.

Check out “Leaving Depression Behind: An Interactive, Choose Your Path Book” written by AJ Centore and Taylor Bennett."

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