Mental Health in Coventry

The mental health charity, Mind, has published a report entitled "Ecotherapy -- the green agenda for mental health."

Mind describes ecotherapy as "getting outdoors and getting active in a green environment as a way of boosting mental well-being".

Mind's chief executive Paul Farmer: "Ecotherapy is a credible, clinically-valid treatment option and needs to be prescribed by GPs, especially when for many people access to treatments other than anti-depressants is extremely limited."

One study cited by Mind (108 people studied by the University of Essex) found that 94 per cent said green activities had benefited their mental health and lifted depression, while 90 per cent said a combination of nature and exercise had the greatest effect.

A few of the report's recommendations:

- GPs should consider referral for green exercise as a treatment option for every patient experiencing mental distress.

- Inequality of access to green space should be addressed as a human rights, social justice and discrimination issue.

- All health, social care and criminal justice institutions should be required to ensure access to green space.