Young people appreciate urban nature as a support for their mental health and wellbeing

Some research on children and their connections with nature is framed around a deficit model, which includes an acceptance of “nature deficit disorder” as a concern that needs to be addressed. Nature deficit disorder views young people and/or the lives of young people as needing improvement. This paper “offers an important counter-narrative” to this view.

Twenty-four young people (age 17-27) participated in a study exploring the value of urban nature as a contributor to their mental health and wellbeing. Nine of the participants had lived experience of mental health difficulties. All of the participants lived in Sheffield, a city in the UK. Fifteen lived in an area of urban deprivation. Twenty of the young people participated in informal interviews lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. The interviewer did not mention “nature” until after the participants had the opportunity to first talk about feeling good and not so good in Sheffield. They were then asked to say what came to mind when they heard the word “nature.” They were also invited to make a drawing of a “feel good nature or outdoor place in Sheffield.” Five of the study participants attended a series of free creative arts workshops open solely to people with mental health difficulties. The workshops were designed to help participants explore their experience of nature and wellbeing. Only one of the study participants participated in both the interview and the workshops.

Results showed that participants perceived and experienced nature in a number of ways. There were, however, some recurring qualities and characteristics. While trees and woodland in and around the city were often cited, nature was also viewed as something existing outside of the city, usually in “less peopled” environments. Some participants defined nature in relation to designed spaces such as gardens and parks. Workshop participants’ descriptions of nature often included symbolism and agency. Overall, the most frequently experienced elements of nature offering benefits were trees, water, open spaces, and views. Barriers to beneficial engagement with nature as identified by the participants include “deteriorating landscapes, young people’s shifting identities and perceived time pressures.”

This research indicates that young people “value and draw on urban nature for their mental health and wellbeing.” The benefits they receive from their encounters with nature include a stronger sense of self, feelings of escape or being away, and increased connection and care with the human and non-human world.