A new King’s College London study suggests that biodiversity can have profound effects on mental wellbeing.
The research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Wellcome, found that spaces with a diverse range of natural features are strongly associated with improved mental wellbeing compared to those with less biodiversity.
Involving around 2,00 participants, the study leveraged the smartphone application Urban Mind to collect real-time reports on mental health and natural diversity.
Lead researcher Ryan Hammoud, Research Assistant at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, said: “To our knowledge, this is the first study examining the mental health impact of everyday encounters with different levels of natural diversity in real-life contexts.
“Our results highlight that by protecting and promoting natural diversity, we can maximise the benefits of nature for mental wellbeing.
“In practice, this means moving away from heavily curated monocultural pockets and parks of mown grass, which are typically associated with low biodiversity, towards spaces that mirror the biodiversity of natural ecosystems.
“By showing how natural diversity boosts our mental wellbeing, we provide a compelling basis for how to create greener and healthier urban spaces.”
Analysing the effects of biodiversity
Between April 2018 and September 2023, the comprehensive study engaged 1,998 participants who completed over 41,000 assessments.
Each participant filled out three assessments daily for a span of 14 days. These assessments involved documenting their surroundings and responding to inquiries regarding their mental wellbeing.
The study measured natural diversity based on the presence of four key natural elements: trees, plants, birds, and water.
Data collection occurred through the utilisation of the Urban Mind, a collaborative effort between King’s College London, landscape architects J&L Gibbons, and the arts foundation Nomad Projects.
Impacts of natural diversity on mental wellbeing
Researchers discovered that environments abundant in natural features—trees, birds, plants, and waterways—were linked to significantly higher levels of mental wellbeing compared to those with fewer natural elements.
Moreover, this positive influence could endure for as long as eight hours. Upon deeper investigation, it was revealed that approximately 25% of the mental health benefits derived from nature could be attributed to the diversity of features present.
Senior author Andrea Mechelli added: “In the context of climate change, we are witnessing a rapid decline in biodiversity in the UK as well as globally.
“Our results suggest that biodiversity is critical not only for the health of our natural environments but also for the mental wellbeing of the people who live in these environments.
“It is time to recognise that biodiversity brings co-benefits for planetary and human health and needs to be considered vital infrastructure within our cities.”
These insights underscore the importance of implementing policies and practices that foster biodiversity and richness in natural environments, offering dual benefits for both the environment and public mental health.
