There are a lot of factors that can contribute to your mental health — or lack thereof. There are biological factors at play, as well as the specific balance of neurotransmitters in your brain. While some of the components that affect your mental health are out of your control, there’s a big factor that you can alter as needed. Your environment and mental health are directly linked.
The link between environment and mental health
Multiple studies have looked into the connection between environment and mental health. One, a study by Marco Helbich titled Mental Health and Environmental Exposures: An Editorial, says, “Environmental exposures (e.g., green space, noise, air pollution, weather conditions, housing conditions) might trigger mental disorders or be protective factors, facilitating stress reduction, mental recovery, etc.” In other words, the world around you can either help or hurt your mental health.
And, in some cases, the impact environment has on your mental health can be dramatic. Another study by Charles W. Schmidt called Environmental Connections: A Deeper Look into Mental Illness says, “Scientists have… shown that secondary interventions, which remove environmental threats during early stages of mental illness, can sometimes reverse the course of a given disorder.”
So what are environmental threats? And how can you use your environment to support your mental health? To better understand environment and mental health, it’s first helpful to understand the different types of environments.
Types of environment that affect your mental health
Generally speaking, there are three types of environment that can play a role:
• Natural: Literally, nature. Being out in nature is linked to improvement in mood disorders.
• Social: What is your community like? Do the people in your life offer you love and support? Your social environment affects your mental wellbeing.
• Built: Your housing, the population density of your area, and other manmade factors play a role in your mental health.
How to use your environment for greater mental health
So, then, if there are three different environment types that can affect your mental health, it makes sense that there are three areas where you can explore changes to improve your mental wellbeing. And we’ve rounded up some tips to help.
Natural environment tips
This one’s easy. Get outside. No, really. It’s that simple. Head to the beach. Go hike Arroyo Verde Park. We’ve rounded up a bunch of outdoor places to relax in Ventura to help you get the boost from more time in nature.
Social environment tips
It’s time to take stock of the people in your life. We’re not recommending dropping friends or cutting out family — but it is important to know who offers you support and love and who leaves you feeling drained.
Whenever possible, work to spend more time with the people who help your mental health and less time with the people who don’t. Building a supportive community takes time but it’s well worth the effort.
Built environment tips
It seems simple, but even keeping your room and home tidy can help you feel more balanced. Also, fill your space with things you love. While you may not be able to control the world around you, you can shape your built surroundings when you’re at home.
And try to notice when the world around you negatively impacts your mood. For example, does rush hour traffic leaves you feeling stressed and frazzled? Being mindful of how the built environment impacts you can signal when it’s time for some extra self-care to balance the negative.
Want to come into a calm, welcoming environment to give yourself the space to chill out and check in with your mental health? Visit us at the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center. We even have a saltwater fish tank in our lobby and crystals throughout our office to create a zen, positive environment in our space. Get in touch today to schedule your visit.
