No doubt you have heard of studies and statistics that show our society is being increasingly
afflicted with depression and anxiety. This ironically is a problem that is much worse
in the wealthy nations of the world than in poorer ones. It is particularly a concern
in larger urban areas. Studies show a direct relationship between rates of anxiety and
growth of urbanization. For instance, a recent report showed that
urban populations have a 20% greater incidence of depression and a 77% greater occurrence
of psychosis than populations inhabiting rural areas
A CBC report published in April 2021 offers at least a partial explanation. Cities by
nature have people living in close proximity, often in multi-story dwellings built close
to each other. Here there is less opportunity for people to interact frequently with soil
and plants. The aforementioned report references the incredible healing effect of digging in
soil and planting and nurturing a garden, even on tiny balcony spaces.
Alberta Hospital Edmonton specializes in supporting those with mental disorders. Their manager
of vocational programs, Lindsey Pearson, states: Planting something and caring for it through
to a mature plant can create a sense of purpose, satisfaction and joy to be able to see something
flourish Gardening reduces stress and anxiety, and calms the soul. Horticulture therapy can
mean so many different things to people We know that being productive with our hands
is mentally therapeutic, but is there an added benefit in working with plants?
A University of Bolder Colorado paper, originally published in 2018 by Lisa Marshall, describes
the research findings of Prof. Christopher Lowry who spent much of his scientific career
studying the impact of beneficial microbes on mental health. The paper Why dirt may be
nature s original stress buster examines the potentially critical role soil microorganisms
can play in human physical and mental health. As human societies have migrated to urban
environments, we have lost touch with a host of bacterial species that play a role in regulating
our immune system, and this is helping to fuel an epidemic of inflammatory disease I
want to know: What are the impacts on mental health?
Early results suggest that people who are regularly exposed to soils, dust and even
animals seem to have more stress-resilient immune systems and may be at lower risk of
mental illness When we work with living things, not only
might we acquire some benefit from the microbes that may be associated with them, but we also
are in contact with growing, self-replicating, often beautiful life forms. We are in the
real world with that which gives us food and beauty it causes us to grasp the intricate
and brilliant designs that are so obviously testimony to their Designer. All this places
our mental health on a much more stable footing.