Vy Strong Strong 1

Professor Gregory

English 1201

29 July 2020
The Beautiful Human Mind

There are many people in the world who suffer from mental illness. There are so few of

us that have never come in contact with someone who has a disorder. Why do we still treat our

mentally ill population like they are the villains in our stories? My family tree is full of members

who suffer from some sort of neurological imbalance. The fact that this topic hits so close to

home, gave me the reason to look into the treatment and procedures we use to handle these

problems. What was discovered, is an unfortunate over utilization of prescription medication and

an under utilization of counseling and natural remedies. With further research, many questions

arose, one of which being; how does time spent outdoors affect mental health? Time spent

outdoors should be considered more readily as a form of treatment for mental health disorders

since research has found that outdoor time can directly relate to increase in mood, better sleep,

and less need for prescription medications.

In a way, this topic hits home for me and many others in society. Not many people would

want their loved ones to be treated differently by society because of something they could not

control, like a mental disorder. So much is not understood about how much of our brains we

actually utilize. Even less is understood about how each of the electrical charges in our brains

function to make us who we are as humans. It seems as though medicine is making so many

progresses, in present day, but we are still treating mental disorders with old remedies. If these

remedies were known to be effective in treating the mental health disorders, then that would be

one thing, but they are notoriously unreliable. It is amazing how little has changed throughout

the years in relation to treatment of mental health disorders.

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Professor Gregory

English 1201

29 July 2020
Mental health was viewed with great stigma in previous times. People who suffered from

mental disorders would often be “sent away” to asylums and, in some cases, would undergo

drastic procedures to correct the ailment. Some patients would be medically sedated to the point

that they would be devoid of any sense of themselves. There have been unfortunate cases where

the patient would under go a procedure known as a lobotomy. This procedure would sever

connections in the brain’s region, known as, the pre-frontal cortex. This region processes our

emotions. The drastic procedure would “work” but often left the patient devoid of any capability

to process emotion. Unfortunately, there is still much room for improvement in the treatment of

mental health disorders. There are still patients receiving electro-therapy as a form of treatment.

As science began to grasp a little more understanding about mental health disorders, the

methods improved. In today’s time, counseling along with medication is offered. In many cases,

this treatment is effective and allows for the patient to live out life among other civilians. Even

though progress has been made, treatment of mental disorders can still use improvement. Many

medications require continued monitoring and dosage testing. Therapeutic levels can be reached

but the human body’s chemical makeup is a fragile thing, that has not yet been successfully

synthetically engineered by man. If there was a better way to manage these disorders that only

required sunlight and outdoor green space, shouldn’t it be considered?

Time in nature has been linked to improvements in mood. A study was conducted

involving 242 adults, varying in age and sex, recording the amount of time spent doing physical

activity then surveying mood throughout the day. “Time spent outdoors was linked to fewer

depression symptoms in a population based sample of adults” (Bélanger, 2019). The gathered

material showed a great increase to reported “happiness” when more time was spent outside. The
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Professor Gregory

English 1201

29 July 2020
participants of the study also reported a correlation between outdoor time and higher intensity of

physical activity. Participants reported fewer symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, and depression with

increase time spent outdoors. During this year, many have been faced with their own mental

struggles due to quarantine. Sunshine and physical exercise have greatly improved the state of

many people’s mood, in this tough time. The U.S. has, unknowingly, conducted the same study

about mental health with Covid-19 quarantine.

The participants in this study, which appeared in “Preventative Medicine Reports”, all

came from various backgrounds and suffered from several different disorders. Each participated

in different forms of physical activity categorized by intensity and rigor. The participants who

spent more time exercising outdoors in green space reported feeling less symptoms from their

relative disorders. The study correlated moderate to rigorous outdoor activity was more

successful in management of mental health disorder symptoms than indoor activity of the same

caliber.

This study provides evidence that those who suffer from mental illness report feeling a

difference in their symptoms by just being outdoors. It is especially important to note that the

participants did not have the same effects by exercising indoors. Treatment of mental health

disorders are primarily elusive because they pertain to the mind. There is no way to cure a mental

disorder, like a physical disorder. The main way to gauge if a treatment is having positive effects

is by clinical studies and testimonial from patients. The patients in this study unanimously

reported positive effects.

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Professor Gregory

English 1201

29 July 2020
When someone goes to see a doctor about management of other disease processes, they

are often suggested to create lifestyle changes. When someone goes to see a doctor about

management of their mental disorder, they are met with prescriptions and, in rare cases,

counseling. Mental disorders cannot be treated like physical disorders. A lifestyle change such as

exercise outdoors can benefit both physical ailments and mental ones. The previous study

indicates that physical activity is beneficial, but is not always necessary.

More outdoor time also affected amount and quality of sleep. Sleep is often a forgotten

aspect of mental health. During sleep our bodies heal and regenerate. Often, the subconscious

mind processes feelings and thoughts that are left over from the day. Many people can attest to

the fact that sleep is a huge factor in a person’s mood and outlook of the day. Too much or too

little sleep can effect a person’s cognitive function greatly. Imagine, having a chemical

imbalance in the brain and not getting enough quality sleep on top of it.

A study conducted utilizing school aged children was done to observe the effects of

sleep-competing behaviors on cognitive function and mental health. The school age children all

received various quantities of time with “screens”. These activities were deemed to be the higher

sleep-competing behaviors among this age group. The participants who received more screen

time reported lack of quality sleep. The participants who engaged in physical activity reported

more quality sleep. The ones who reported lower quality sleep were also observed to have less

cognitive function. The participants also self reported poor mental health status when reporting

less quality in sleep. Sleep is a vital component to better functioning mental health. Without

quality sleep, mental health status can greatly deteriorate. “This final path model indicated that
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Professor Gregory

English 1201

29 July 2020
watching television was associated with poorer sleep quality, which was associated with poorer

mental health and more daytime sleepiness” (Mellor, 2020).

The children that spent less time with screens and more time doing physical activity

reported an increase in cognitive function. They also reported more and better quality of sleep.

This study shows the important role sleep plays in a person’s mental health. Without sleep, the

brain can not process the events of the day, let alone, process the left over harder information

from the subconscious. If cutting out screen time and adding time outdoors could greatly benefit

the brain’s ability to receive and process emotions, wouldn’t outdoor time be a good alternative

treatment?

Outdoor activity can help treat mental health disorders and fight against drug abuse

epidemic. The use and mishandling of prescription drugs in our society is a problem many face.

Researchers have found that those who use prescription drugs form the majority in those who

have reported attempts or thoughts of suicide. Drug overdose is not only a social societal

problem but has put a strain on the economy. Police officers are needed to fight against the war

on drugs and to apprehend culprits of drug abusers. Unfortunately, one of the major gateways

into drug abuse comes from medication that is prescribed to an individual. After taking certain

medications for a period of time, some people develop habits. These habits can turn into drug

abuse.

Many of these drugs abused are prescribed to treat mental health disorders. In a group of

adults surveyed, for the “Journal of Clinical Epidemiology”, the majority reported feeling as

though they needed less of their prescribed medication when spending more time outdoors. The
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Professor Gregory

English 1201

29 July 2020
data collected varied but the one thing that was consistent was that men and women both

reported less use of drugs with more time spent outdoors. With less patients feeling like they

need medication and possibly utilizing less prescription medication, less could be prescribed by

physicians. Less resources could be utilized in manufacturing medications and be allocated to

counseling services. More outdoor time can positively effect the over prescribing of medication.

A data analysis study was conducted pertaining to 406 people in various life

circumstances. The participants were of every race, sex, age, and socioeconomic status. The

participants self reported mental health status relating to time spent outdoors with and without

“green space”. The population that spent time outdoors but in areas with no “green space”

reported no mental health increase. The population who spent time outside with green space

consistently reported better mental health status. “Mental health was associated with natural

outdoor environments contact. Associations were especially consistent for surrounding

greenness” (Triguero-Mas, 2017).

Not only does outdoor time matter in the treatment of mental health disorders, but the

type of outdoor space is important. The connection to nature and green space is important to

mention in the fight against mental health disorder. Often times, medications need to be adjusted

in order to work properly for a patient utilizing them to manage their mental health status. The

utilization of outdoor time does not need to be monitored as closely. Outdoor time also does not

have the added side effects that prescription medication can have. Outdoor time is also not a

gateway into drug abuse. This use of green space as an alternative treatment to mental health

disorders is beneficial without many of the considerable set backs.

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Professor Gregory

English 1201

29 July 2020
Utilizing outdoor activity as a treatment to battle mental health disorder can greatly

improve the treatment of patients. For many, outdoor space can be accessed without cost.

Although green space is preferred, any outdoor time is beneficial to mental health. Physical

activity can have a positive effect on the body as well as the mind. Exercise has been proven to

elevate endorphin levels in the brain. These chemical create the “feel good” response in our

bodies to help elevate our moods. Exercise can also combat physical disorders and therefore

creates better overall health in the body and mind.

More outdoor activity can help fight the battle with substance abuse and inadvertently

benefit the health care system. Less abuse of prescription drugs and better management of mental

health disorder could lead to less hospitalization of patients. Less hospitalization frees up much

needed resources. With the possibility of less prescription use, there is a lower risk of

prescription error. First responders could benefit from less drug abuse calls. With less use of

prescription drugs, less could be manufactured freeing up labor for other much needed resources.

Many make the argument that outdoor activity is “not enough” to combat the chemical

effect in the brain when suffering from mental disorders. There are also those who do not have

access to outdoor space adequate for physical activity. There is also the argument that there is

not enough time with busy schedules to spend adequate amount of outdoor activity to have the

needed affect. The environment in which the outdoor activity is done in may also effect the

mental health status. These points are all valid. The goal is to hopefully manage with a

combination of all treatments. There is also the possibility of lowering the number of people who

are only treated using prescription medication. Instead of outdoor activity being an alternative

form of treatment, prescriptions should be.

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Professor Gregory

English 1201

29 July 2020
Even though outdoor time alone may not be able to cure mental health disorders, neither

has prescription drugs. These disorders are a lifelong battle. For those who do not have access to

outdoor green space, any outdoor time has been proven helpful in managing symptoms. Time is

a difficult thing to find more of but prioritizing health can sometimes be the key. Without the

time traveling back and forth to doctors appointments for tests and dosageing, there can be extra

time found in the schedule for outdoor activity. Also, there is no threat of overdosing on outdoor

time.

There should be much more improvement in the fight for better mental health. We live in

such a tumultuous time of society, mental health needs to be put in the fore front. Our specialists

who deal with mental health patients should be exposed to all options and forms of treatment. If

electro-therapy can be considered as a form of treatment for certain mental disorders, then why is

outdoor time not? More research can be done into homeopathic remedies for mental health

disorders.

When speaking about mental health there is still a stigma that comes along with the

discussion. Mental disorders are portrayed in society as people in straight jackets resembling a

villain off of a Gotham t.v. show. The more these disorders are being normalized in society, the

better our understanding of them and treatments are. The less we stigmatize mental health

disorders in society the less we victimize our people who suffer from these disorders. Instead of

further scrutinizing those that already need our help, we can uplift them with treatments that

could not be misunderstood as cruel or evil.

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Professor Gregory

English 1201

29 July 2020
There is still much more to learn about our brains and how mental disorders effect each

person but, the answer does not seem to be clear whether prescription drugs alone or time spent

in nature alone will be enough to maintain a lasting treatment. The only thing that is clear is, both

can be effective treatments. Although both are effective, only outdoor time is less invasive and

contains less side effects and repercussion. Perhaps, the answer is a combination of both

therapies. Regardless, it is clear that more research is needed.

 Works Cited

Bélanger, Mathieu, et al. “Physical Activity Mediates the Relationship between Outdoor Time and

Mental Health.” Preventive Medicine Reports, vol. 16, Dec. 2019. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2019.101006.

Browning, Matthew H. E. M., et al. “Can Simulated Nature Support Mental Health? Comparing

Short, Single-Doses of 360-Degree Nature Videos in Virtual Reality With the Outdoors.”

Frontiers in Psychology, 2020. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02667.

Fournier, Charles, et al. “Association between Binge Drug Use and Suicide Attempt among People

Who Inject Drugs.” Substance Abuse, vol. 39, no. 3, July 2018, p. 315. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1080/08897077.2017.1389800.

Furu, K., et al. “Legal Drug Use in a General Population: Association with Gender, Morbidity, Health

Care Utilization, and Lifestyle Characteristics.” Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, vol. 50, no. 3,

Jan. 2019, pp. 341–349. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/S0895-4356(96)00362-9.

Mellor, David, et al. “Sleep‐competing Behaviours among Australian School‐attending Youth:

Associations with Sleep, Mental Health and Daytime Functioning.” International Journal of

Psychology, vol. 55, no. 1, Feb. 2020, pp. 13–21.

Triguero-Mas, Margarita, et al. “Natural Outdoor Environments and Mental Health: Stress as a

Possible Mechanism.” Environmental Research, vol. 159, Nov. 2017, pp. 629–638. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.048.