Benyamin Cooke | Green spaces improve mental and physical health

There is a growing body of research which indicates that green spaces such as playgrounds, parks, residential greenery, woodlands and other natural meadows can promote both mental and physical health. The mental benefits it provides to citizens include psychological relaxation, stress alleviation, and with its physical advantages it also provides citizens with an avenue to engage in some form of exercise.

The World Health Organization (WHO) not only confirmed the benefits of green spaces but also further revealed that parks and gardens play a critical role in cooling cities and in providing safe routes for walking and cycling. These sites also promote physical activity, social interaction and mental health (‘Urban Green Spaces’ 2012).

Given the multiplicity of benefits that green spaces provide, Jamaica must capitalize on reducing health inequalities, on improving individuals' well-being, and on aiding in the treatment of mental illnesses.

To achieve these, Jamaica must truly move pursuant to the Parma Declaration on Environment and Health of 2010, where the member states of the WHO European regions have signed and have committed to providing each child, by 2020, access to a healthy and safe environment.

In addition, it is expected to provide settings of daily life in which children can walk and cycle to school, and to provide green spaces where they can also play and undertake other forms of physical activity.

Improving access to green spaces in cities is also included in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11.7, which aims to achieve the following: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities” (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2014).

NO ACCESS TO RECREATIONAL AREAS

Today, many of our citizens still do not have access to recreational areas which facilitate and promote physical activities. Promoting physical exercise to the citizens of this country is vital, as it is important to improving their cardiovascular health and combating non-communicable diseases.

Jamaica must align itself with other countries by putting health and sustainable development at the forefront.

In fact, substantial evidence points to the availability of green spaces and its ability to enhance mental and physical health, to promote social interaction and cohesion and to provide multiple benefits to the ecosystem.

The percentage of non-communicable diseases is swiftly rising in Jamaica and we must create avenues for people to take care of their physical and mental well-being. We must utilize green spaces and recreational parks as a part of our health promotion and as a preventative health care strategy.

Countries like Japan have gone further to enhance their healthcare system and have already taken steps to utilize ecotherapy through forestry bathing.

As far back as the 1980s, the Japanese government carried out extensive scientific research, which found that a two-hour forest-bathing session could reduce blood pressure, lower cortisol levels and improve concentration and memory.

The truth is that Jamaica must move towards improving their healthcare system by considerably creating more accessible avenues for individuals to improve their physical and mental health.

Notwithstanding the urgent need in Jamaica, there is also an urgent global need for accessible and cost-effective pro-mental health infrastructure and preventative health care measures such as eco-therapy.

- Benyamin Cooke is vice-president of the PNPYO. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and benyamincooke@yahoo.com