HGI: Green therapy - HGI calls it “getting needs met”

Tuesday, 15, May 2007 12:00

In a week where GPs are reported to have increased prescription levels for antidepressants to record levels, research by the University of Essex into 'ecotherapy' confirms what has been known for a long time: namely, that giving depressed people access to open air and exercise can be more effective than antidepressants in treating depression.

The Quakers practised this 200 years ago, Monty Don is promoting horticultural therapy and the Human Givens Foundation (HGF) is fundraising to set up mental health centres for people with severe stress breakdowns. These HG centres would be in country settings and feature outdoor activities, such as gardening, animal husbandry and forestry as part of the treatment that depressed, psychotic and addicted people need to rebalance themselves.

Depression is caused by excessive worrying about innate emotional needs not being met leading to the unbalancing of the sufferers sleep patterns. Anything that distracts a depressed person from worrying by giving him something to focus on outside of themselves will help that person, especially if the activity involves getting at least some emotional needs met.