Did you know that a rich ecosystem can be not only good for your health but your mind as well? Let us understand how biodiversity affects mental health so that you have a healthy mind, body, and, soul!
Close your eyes and visualize yourself walking through a green field. Next, think about being in an area where birds are chirping, rivers are rushing and waterfalls are falling. You see colorful flowers and breathtaking beauty, which leads you to wonder about the amazing plants and animals around you.
Which scenario makes you feel more calm? The initial one is serene but the latter fills you with awe, optimism, delight, and interest.
This next scenario demonstrates how biodiversity affects mental health. Different forms of life maintain not only the equilibrium of the earth but also ensure psychological soundness when a person goes through stressful times.
Want To Know How Biodiversity Affects Mental Health? 5 Ways
Green spaces do not solely represent nature; it’s the diverse life forms and the harmony between them that make nature alluring, beautiful, and mysterious.
For those who love nature, did you know biodiversity helps in stress management and mental health? Let us get some clarity on this topic below!
1. Biodiversity stimulates our senses
Seeing vibrant colors and hearing sounds of different vibrations stimulate your senses. You can feel how it reduces your mental fatigue and energizes you. You pay attention to the interesting details in a biodiverse space which also improves your memory span. All these, cumulatively, improve your mental well-being.
It helps in releasing your mood-boosting hormones like endorphins as you prefer to spend time out in the nature instead of on your phone.
2. Soil microbiome can help with depression
Getting your feet and hands dirty in the soil is a good idea when it comes to mental health!
The diversity of microbes in soil can also be beneficial as Mycobacterium Vaccae, a microbe in soil has the same effect on your mental health as anti-depressants. It releases serotonin and helps you feel better during depression when you come in contact with it.
A simple garden in your house can be a hotspot of biodiversity.
3. Biodiversity can improve your physical health
You know that your physical health is always at risk from the amount of pollution you absorb. A biodiverse environment provides you with fresh air to breathe.
A biodiverse space can heal your physical ailments, can reduce chances of asthma and stress, indirectly improving your mental health conditions by lowering health and eco-anxiety.
4. Biodiversity helps in stress management
Everything we do for our survival guarantees stress. The pressure you face stretches your ability to handle stress and solve critical problems, making you anxious and nervous.
Studies have shown how biodiverse environments recharge the stressed mind of humans. Imagine you are anxious and stressed about a project and when you look out of your house, you see cars, landscapes, and busy streets. It does not help to reduce your stress.
But, amidst nature, you see beautiful and vibrant things. You love the environment around you and how it makes you feel. You enjoy every moment spent in awe of the natural beauty. It helps with stress, anxiety and calms your mind instantly.
5. Biodiversity helps in self-awareness
When you spend time amidst a biodiverse nature, you see various species with their fascinating beauty. You understand the role of perspectives in life and that life is not black and white but colorful.
The time that you spend makes you see life in different ways through different perspectives. The multiple colors, shapes, species, and lifestyles help you reflect on your own life choices.
Related: What Is Spiritual Ecology? How Our Relationship With Nature Shapes Our Spiritual Beliefs
4 Tips To Cultivate Biodiversity In Your Daily Life
If we destroy nature, we’re destroying ourselves. So, come and take a look at some of the simple ways to build biodiversity and some of them are:
1. Create health hubs!
You can label Biodiverse environments as health hubs. Making people conscious of the mental and physical health benefits of such areas can help you preserve such spots.
2. Architecture and biodiversity
Architects are including green spaces while building urban spaces for us! This is an innovative measure to include biodiversity in urban lifestyle.
3. Gardening
The In-house Garden is a spot for biodiversity. It has a variety of species including insects, flowers, and soil microbiota. Gardens are species-rich, and you can create such spots in your house.
4. Protect biodiversity from extinction
Awareness is key here! The more people understand the role of biodiversity on overall health, the more they will try to protect it. Biodiversity reflects the harmony on this earth and to an extent, it reflects the harmony we have inside us.
Related: Tree Energy: Discover The Natural Healing Power Of Trees!
Final Thought
The variety of life forms is beneficial for the ecosystem and mental health, it enriches both. Understanding the importance and how biodiversity affects mental health and well-being is vital for shaping mental health strategies in the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
What is the easiest way to maintain biodiversity?
Awareness is the key, with the help of proactive measures you can protect biodiversity.
Can we build biodiversity?
Gardening is the easiest way to build biodiversity in your immediate space.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life forms and how they interact with each other for maintaining balance in nature.
How biodiversity affects mental health?
Living closer to green spaces can be good for you. Biodiversity helps in stress management, helps relax symptoms of depression and anxiety.
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