Foundations of Public Health: Green Space and Mental Health Report

This report examines the role of "green space" initiatives in promoting mental health within the context of public health. It begins with an introduction to the concept of green spaces, defining them as areas covered with vegetation like parks and gardens, and their growing significance in urban environments. The main body of the report delves into the evidence supporting the positive impacts of green spaces on mental well-being, including enhanced relaxation, improved social cohesion, and enhanced cognitive function, and reduced prevalence of obesity, stress and other diseases. The report also identifies and discusses challenges in implementing population-wide nature exposure, such as funding limitations, societal perspectives, and inadequate promotional channels. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the importance of green spaces in public health strategies.

Foundations of Public
Health
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Contents
Topic - “Green space” initiatives, are attracting public health attention as a mental health promotion
strategy........................................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..............................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................9
REFRENCES............................................................................................................................................11
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Topic - “Green space” initiatives, are attracting public health attention as a
mental health promotion strategy.
INTRODUCTION
Green space is considered as piece of land which is partly or completely covered with the
grass, shrubs, trees or any other vegetation. This may include community garden, parks,
cemeteries and many others. In today’s time green space idea is using as initiative in public
health in order to promote quality mental health (Ali, Haase and Heiland, 2020). Green space is
also promotes physical activities, psychological well being as well as general public health of the
urban residents. Green space is using as metal health promotional strategy because it help a
person in minimizing stress as well as boosting mental and physical health properly. The
respective report is based on Green Space for attracting public health attention as a mental health
promotion strategy. Respective report will include evidence for enhancing contract with nature to
improve population mental health, identification of challenges to implementing population wide
nature exposure.
MAIN BODY
The 'green spaces' is considered as note which common or semi-regular zones are
incompletely or totally covered by vegetation that happens in or close to urban regions. They
incorporate parks, forests, and allocations, which give environment to untamed life and can be
utilized for recreation. The structure and maintenance of green space are significant for whether
it is considered good quality'. Green spaces that are all around designed as well as kept up to
draw in more guests and neighborhoods with attractive green zones or vegetation are seen as
more secure, which makes them progressively 'walk able'. In addition to this, the intrigue of
green spaces can be turned around on the off chance that they become forsaken and littered, or
the focal point of hostile to social conduct (Azzopardi-Muscat and et. al., 2020). In today’s time
concept of green space is using in order to promote quality mental health in the urban area
because people leaving in such area are busy whole days as well as they are more infected with
the depression issues. So now public health association are promoting concept is green space
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because it help in avoiding stress as well as depression situation properly. In addition to this,
green space also helps an individual in increasing their memory power, effectiveness,
productivity and many more which also be effective at their workplace. This is so in current time
organization are also developing green space at their campus so that employees feel fresh and
enthusing which directly leads to increase in their effectiveness. In the view point of Matthias
Braubach, 2017, there are several benefits which show that green spaces have increase contact
with nature to enhance population mental health as well as it also help people in increasing their
effectiveness or productivity at the workplace (Effects of Urban Green Space on Environmental
Health, Equity and Resilience, 2020). From which some main effectiveness of green space in
respect of author or researcher is given below:-
 Enhance relaxation and restoration – The green space provides contact to a person with
nature which helps them in mental restoration as well as relaxation which improve their
effectiveness. In medical health it is considered that nature can trigger positive impact for
an individual with high stress level as it help in shifting positive emotional state of a
person. In addition to this it help in stimulating related to natural setting to help for
restoring a sense of well being to a person who is suffering from mental fatigue or issue.
For example if a person is going to mental issues of loneliness so when they go to any
green space they able to interact with others which help them in improving their mental
condition as well as it will also motivate in overcoming their issues. Moreover, when a
person go to green space like park they also get encourage to do physical exercise which
improve their mental as well as physical health properly.
 Improved social capital and cohesion – Social relationship have a notable defensive
impact on wellbeing and prosperity, while social isolation is an indicator of horribleness
and mortality. Green space can assume a significant job in cultivating social cooperation
and advance a feeling of network that is fundamental for social union just as for human
wellbeing (Bush, Coffey and Fastenrath, 2020). Public urban green space has been
appeared to encourage long range interpersonal communication as well as advance social
consideration in youngsters and teenagers. The amount and the nature of greenery have
been connected with improved social attachment at the local scale while deficiency of
green space has been related with impression of dejection and absence of social support.
So in today’s time medical professional advice people to leave in society having green
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space or it will be nearby to the society. It is so because it help in improving mental
health condition because greenery help a person in relaxing as well as feeling fresh which
increase their effectiveness properly.
 Enhance mental health and cognitive function – It is determined that there is solid proof
of the mental wellness advantages of urban green space. More prominent saw
neighborhood greenness has been unequivocally connected with improved emotional
wellness. More surrounding greenness has been connected to improved physical as well
as mental or psychological health in every single financial layer and in both genders. It
was demonstrated that people living in urban zones with progressively green space will in
general have a diminished degree of stress and better prosperity contrasted with those
with more unfortunate accessibility of green space (Cucca, 2020). More greenery in the
area was connected to bring down degrees of misery, tension and stress improved access
to water bodies has additionally been connected to upgraded mental prosperity in city
inhabitants. For example, now medical professional also promoting as well as try to add
green space in their treatment related to mental issues because it help in relaxing person
mind as well as it also help in conducting more effective conversation.
 Provide health benefits to every person of all age group – According to research it is
determined that green space helps an individual in several ways so that they can improve
their effectiveness as well as productivity. According to the research it is determined that
green space or plants help in lowering blood pressure, minimize muscle tension which is
related to stress as well as it will also help in enhancing attention and reducing feeling
related to fear, anger or aggression. This is so because greenery help in relaxing mind and
enhance feeling of calmness. In addition to this, girl’s who exposed to green space or
setting are better able to handle peer pressure, sexual pressure or any other challenging
situation. Moreover, green space is also effective for the children as greenery help in
boosting their attention power of student which directly lead to increase in their marks
and grade (Enssle and Kabisch, 2020). So it now medical professional are suggesting
people to leave in a locality which have green space like park, garden and so on because
it help them in preventing self from the medial issues related to mental health.
 Reduce prevalence of obesity, stress and other diseases – According to the research
conducted with the 60 examinations from the United States, Canada, Australia, New
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Zealand, and Europe on the connections between green space and obesity pointers found
that the larger part (68%) of papers indicated that green space is related with decreased
obesity; the connections could be adjusted by age as well as socioeconomic status. A later
report in Spain affirmed these ends and indicated that living in greener local locations and
living in nearer closeness to backwoods was connected with less inactive time as well as
diminished dangers of overweight, obesity and stress in kids. Besides, there is some proof
that utilizing green space for cultivating may impact physical action, improve social
prosperity, and energize eating well food, in this manner diminishing stoutness (Fathi and
et. al., 2020). It is notable that type 2 diabetes mellitus can be forestalled by diminishing
weight and improving physical movement. In addition to this leaving in green space will
also help in increasing patience level which also helps in avoiding stress as well as if a
person faced related situation they will handle it more effectively.
These are some main evidences related to effectiveness of green space for a person as
well as their mental health. According to these evidence it can be determined through green
space helps a person in getting relax, calm and effective which leads to improvement in student’s
studies as well employee’s productivity. This is so in today’s time almost every society as well
as workplace have green space like park or garden as that will promotes to mental and physical
well being successfully. In addition to this there are several challenges faced while
implementation of population wide nature exposure related to the green space, from which some
are mentioned below:-
 Funding or budget – For conduct anything or developing anything most essential aspect
is fund or budget. In respect to every company it is essential to develop proper budget as
well as they also need to conduct their work accordingly. This is so because development
of budget help in estimating cost of resources as well as it also help in determining how
much a person can afford in that amount. In respect of promoting green space, budget of
the people get impacted. This is so because when a builder construct a society with
effective green space or park or garden the price of flats get increased. Moreover, around
the world no every person can afford expensive flat or room. So this will impact on the
promotion as well as acceptance of the green space (Fernandez, 2020). In addition to this
in some situation there will be park or garden outside the society then issues is that who
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will conduct maintenances of that because it incurred money and at that time not every
person who use park or garden will ready to pay this will directly affect the budget.
 Society thinking – In the acceptance of any concept thinking of people plays major role
because if a person think good they will determine everything good but they not consider
things good then they always ignore positive side and highlight negative one. According
to this not every person think that green space plays major role in their life they think that
it is for the attraction and it have not much usage (He, Wu and Wang, 2020). Due to this
behavior of people agencies or government not able to promote green space in effective
manner around the world. Moreover, there are some people who think that if they
develop or construct green space it will increase expenses which are true but they never
analyze effectiveness of green space which help them in preventing from mental as well
as physical stress. This will impact on the promotion of green space around the world
because people are not ready to adopt aspect of anything like green space as well as they
always showcase or highlight negative aspects.
 Not proper promotional channel – Promotion channel is considered as tool which is used
by companies, agencies and government in order to promote or advertise their products,
services, policy or any other aspects. Adaptation of effective promotional channel is
necessary because through it they able to reach to the right customer or audiences who
like the concept, products and services. In respect of promotion of green space there is
not proper channel through which agencies, government or people can promote it so that
awareness of people gets increase. Due to which they not able to increase awareness
about the green space at the society. In addition to this people think that it will increase
expenses of society as well as they also ignore that by developing green space they able
to encourage effective mental as well a physical health. Along with this, in this issue is
also related to the people because they are too busy in their professional life that they
ignore other aspects like effectiveness of park, garden and other green space.
 Less government initiatives – Around the world there are several issues or aspects in
which government suggestion and involvement is necessary (Ignatieva and et. al., 2020).
There are several rules, regulations and policies which are developed by a government as
that will provide proper guidelines to the peoples as well as it will also help in promoting
concept. In respect of promotion of green space government or WHO (World Health
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Organization) develop proper guideline but society people not much aware about it as
well as not every person know about how green space is interrelated with the good
mental health. This show that it is also challenge because there is less awareness about
the effectiveness of the green space.
 Lack of motivation – For conducting or implementing any aspect it is essential to have
proper motivation because that will encourage conducting a work in effective as well as
appropriate manner. Similarly, in order to maintain proper health it is essential that a
person must be self motivated because they will help as well as encourage them to adopt
steps for implementing it properly (Leng and et. al., 2020). In case of challenges related
to promotion about green space is that more than half of the population are not much
motivated toward their health due to which they not concern about the greenery or
occurrence of green space near their residences. Moreover they also not know or less
know about the effectiveness of green space in respect of mental as well as physical
health, these people not know that greenery help in relaxing, calming and improving
individual performance and effectiveness.
These are some of the main challenges which are faced while implementing population
wide nature exposure related to the promotion of green space effectiveness for the mental well
being. These challenges or issues impact on the promotion green space such as community park,
garden, small forest and so on. So it is essential for government, medical associations,
construction builder to promote culture of society which has green space as that will directly
encourage a person to visit at garden or park which directly leads to effective mental as well as
physical health. In addition to this, it will also help an individual in preventing themselves from
several diseases like depression, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, stress and many more.
Furthermore, it can be say that promotion of green space will be considered as upstream
of public health approach because through it people able to understand effectiveness as well as
interrelation among the greenery as well as mental health (Peacock and Brymer, 2020).
Moreover promotion of green space for the mental health also helps in promoting about the
effectiveness of greenery for the physical health. This mean green space like park, community
garden, small forest and so on is effective for the people as well as it will help in motivating
others that they must visit to these spaces as that will help in relaxing mind, calming body and
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mind, balance blood pressure, avoiding depression situation and many more. In addition to this,
it will also help in promoting physical activities through which a person will feel energetic, fresh
and active which help them in perform their work in effective as well as best manner. Along with
this promotion of green space will leads to up streaming of public health approach because it
directly or indirectly encourage a person to leave near to the greenery as that will help them in
keeping relax and clam which leads to effective mental health. This will directly lead to
enhancement in productivity of an individual at their study, workplace, sports or any other place.
In today’s time there are numbers of organization which are developing green space like park or
garden at their campus which show that it help in increasing their productivity. It is so as when
employees feel stress they visit to garden and spend some time after that they feel fresh as well
as relax which increase their performance as well as productivity (Peacock and Brymer, 2020).
Moreover, now builders also constructing building or society with the garden or park because it
look society more attractive as well as it also help in maintaining good health of others. In
addition to this, there are several ways which government as well as agencies can adopt in order
to promote green space such as government must advertise about effectiveness of green space on
the television, radio, newspaper, online and other sources as that will help in attracting or aware
more audiences. Furthermore, government must also make rule that all construction sites need to
have big, medium or small size green space as if a person pay for it then they will utilize it which
improve their mental as well as physical health.
CONCLUSION
By analyzing above mentioned point it can be summarized that in today’s time almost
every person is facing issues or challenges related to the mental health because they are too much
busy in their professional life that they didn’t have time for their family as well as themselves.
Due to this, issues as well as challenges related to depression, psychosis and other mental issues
are increasing day by day. Moreover, these issues are generally taken place in the environment of
the urban area or locality. So in order to overcome or avoid situation which leads to mental
issues, public health association are suggesting people to move in the society which have or near
to green space because it help them in improving their mental condition as well as it is also
effective for physical health. Green space will include community garden, parks, cemeteries and
many others, so when a person is leaving in green space they feel relax as well as they also
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motivate to do walk or conduct interaction with others this will help them in avoiding or
resolving mental issues related to the depression, loneliness, and other mental issues.
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REFRENCES
Books and Journals
Ali, L., Haase, A. and Heiland, S., 2020. Gentrification through Green Regeneration? Analyzing
the Interaction between Inner-City Green Space Development and Neighborhood
Change in the Context of Regrowth: The Case of Lene-Voigt-Park in Leipzig, Eastern
Germany. Land. 9(1). p.24.
Azzopardi-Muscat, N. and et. al., 2020. Synergies in Design and Health. The role of architects
and urban health planners in tackling key contemporary public health challenges.
Bush, J., Coffey, B. and Fastenrath, S., 2020. Governing urban greening at a metropolitan scale:
an analysis of the Living Melbourne strategy. Australian Planner, pp.1-8.
Cucca, R., 2020. Spatial segregation and the quality of the local environment in contemporary
cities. In Handbook of Urban Segregation. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Enssle, F. and Kabisch, N., 2020. Urban green spaces for the social interaction, health and well-
being of older people—An integrated view of urban ecosystem services and socio-
environmental justice. Environmental Science & Policy. 109. pp.36-44.
Fathi, S. and et. al., 2020. The role of urban morphology design on enhancing physical activity
and public health. International journal of environmental research and public
health.17(7). p.2359.
Fernandez, R. M., 2020. From a Utilitarian Universal Health Coverage to an Inclusive Health
Coverage. Good Health and Well-Being, pp.214-223.
He, S., Wu, Y. and Wang, L., 2020. Characterizing horizontal and vertical perspectives of
spatial equity for various urban green spaces: a case study of Wuhan, China. Frontiers
in Public Health, 8.
Ignatieva, M. and et. al., 2020. Lawns in Cities: From a Globalised Urban Green SPACE
phenomenon to Sustainable Nature-Based Solutions. Land. 9(3). p.73.
Leng, H. and et. al., 2020. Exploring the Relationship between Green Space in a Neighbourhood
and Cardiovascular Health in the Winter City of China: A Study Using a Health Survey
for Harbin. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17(2).
p.513.
Peacock, S. and Brymer, E., 2020. Facilitating mental health. Good Health and Well-Being,
pp.193-204.
Online
Effects of Urban Green Space on Environmental Health, Equity and Resilience. 2020. [Online].
Available through:< https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-56091-5_11
>.
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