Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 03/12/2020

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Mental Health Depression/Stress Stress has become a major contributor to poor health as society trends towards a faster paced and more demanding environment. Left unresolved, long-term stress can lead to immune system issues and illness. Local trends are seen, as one in four Anoka County residents have been told by a health care professional that they have anxiety (24%) or depression (23%). Females were twice as likely to have depression than males (anoka county). The experience of nature is one antidote to stress, and the body's positive response is remarkably fast, occurring within minutes. Studies show that visual exposure to nature, in the form of trees, grass and flowers, can effectively reduce stress, particularly if initial stress levels were high (source from file). Staying physically active is another common and effective way to live with mental health illnesses. Services provided by parks and recreation can be a powerful tool to help those suffering tackle some obstacles they may face. Programming allows for safe and accepting atmospheres to spend time outside, be physically active, foster social interactions and introduce residents to new skills. In addition, nature helps us cope with pain. Because we are genetically programmed to find trees, plants, water, and other nature elements engrossing, we are absorbed by nature scenes and distracted from our pain and discomfort. This is nicely demonstrated in a now classic study of patients who underwent gallbladder surgery; half had a view of trees and half had a view of a wall. According to the physician who conducted the study, Robert Ulrich, the patients with the view of trees tolerated pain better, appeared to nurses to have fewer negative effects, and spent less time in a hospital. More recent studies have shown similar results with scenes from nature and plants in hospital rooms (UMN Source). 30 I CITY OF RAMSEY PARK SYSTEM PLAN