Dr. Rachel Buxton, Assistant Professor in the Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences at Carleton University, commented that often nature is considered as representing the amount of green space near homes or the distance to the nearest park, but the link between species diversity and health is underexplored. Her study shows that if species diversity can affect mental health at the severe end of the spectrum (hospitalisations), it is possible that the decline in biodiversity across the globe may be intricately connected with human anxiety and mood on a day-to-day basis.”
The study is a small step towards understanding the complex integration of nature and human wellbeing and the specifics of biodiversity need to be researched more. Dr. Buxton’s team recommends further studies are taken to examine which particular aspects of nonhuman nature have the greatest impact on mood disorders, in order to inform future urban greening efforts.
Reference
Buxton, R T, Pearson, A L, Lin, H-Y, Sanciangco, J C, & Bennett, J R. 2023. Exploring the relationship between bird diversity and anxiety and mood disorder hospitalisation rates. Geo: Geography and Environment. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/geo2.127