There’s a curious effect urban trees could have on depression, study finds

There is already a long list of reasons why you love trees, we know that. Avoiding depression may be the last entry on this list, according to a study of 9,751 residents of Leipzig, Germany.

For a more consistent measure, the researchers used prescriptions for antidepressants rather than self-reports to measure the mental health of communities, then compared these statistics to the number of trees on the street in each area.

They reported that a greater amount of local foliage within 100 meters (328 feet) of the home was associated with a lower likelihood of being prescribed antidepressants, results that could be of great benefit to city planners, health professionals. health and governments.

The reduction in antidepressant use linked to street trees was particularly important in socio-economically disadvantaged groups. While it is important not to go too far in these findings, the findings suggest that urban trees could be a simple and affordable way to boost mental health and help close health inequalities in society.

“Our results suggest that street trees, a form of small-scale urban green space accessible to the public, can help reduce the gap in health inequalities between different social groups economically,” he added. . says environmental psychologist Melissa Marselle

from De Montfort University in the United Kingdom.

“This is good news because street trees are relatively easy to find and their number can be increased without much planning effort.”

Outside of socio-economically disadvantaged groups, the street tree factor was only marginally significant when the team controlled for other factors related to depression risks, such as employment, gender, age. and weight, suggesting that those who need more help battling depression enjoy a more natural environment.

And the researchers found that the 100-meter distance was crucial: Having more trees on the street in a larger area didn’t make a big difference in prescription rates for antidepressants. The tree species is also largely irrelevant, according to the results of this research.

While the study has its limitations (not all depressed people take antidepressants, for example, and there may be other factors at play that affect mental health), statistics show a relationship sufficient to suggest that just having trees on the street is enough to improve the mood of a neighborhood as people go about their daily business.

“It is important to note that most planning guidelines for urban green spaces are often based on intentional visits for recreational purposes.” says population ecologist Diana Bowler of the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv).

“Our study shows that everyday nature close to home – biodiversity seen through your window or when you walk or drive to work, school or shopping – is important for health mental. This finding is particularly relevant now at the time of COVID-19 lockdowns ”.

Researchers talk about adding “an unintentional natural experience to daily life” to help combat mental health issues, issues that are worsening with the current pandemic.

And they also suggest that future studies could look at other types of green space and their influence on the risk of depression in an area, as well as digging into different types and sizes of trees; some work better than others in keeping residents happy and satisfied.

This is of course in addition to all the other benefits of trees. We know they’re good for keeping cities cool and reducing stress levels, as well as absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and promoting biodiversity.

“We propose that adding trees to the streets in urban residential areas is a nature-based solution that can not only promote mental health, but can also help mitigate climate change and conserve human life. biodiversity, ”says Aletta Bonn, ecosystem services researcher at iDiv.

The research was published in Scientific reports.