Persuading young adults that are challenged by stress and anxiety that immersion in nature may help improve their well-being.
Young adults, ages 18-25, are often faced with many challenges such as stress and anxiety, as this is oftentimes a transitional point in their lifetime. Being both millennials, and digital natives, there is often a loss of connection with nature, when in fact, nature can be the solution to reducing these feelings of stress and anxiety. Spending time in natural environments can be linked to many mental health benefits due to nature’s impact on both our brains and behaviors. This practice of being in nature to boost growth and healing, especially in mental health, stems from the idea that people are connected to and impacted by natural environments. This is called ecotherapy or nature therapy. This idea of ecotherapy, and using nature as therapy and a form of connection, came from ecopsychology which is a part of systems theory. It provides individuals with an opportunity to explore their relationship with nature, it’s the psychology of how immersion in nature benefits your health. Young adults need to explore their connection with nature in order to help aid their mental health. In turn, this capstone focuses on how immersion in nature can benefit one’s mental health through a well-being journal.
*Physical printed copy of Grounding, a Well-being Journal, in the works*
