Gardening and Mental Wellbeing

A garden is a space where one cultivates plants. Working a garden incorporates many activities. Gardening and mental health partner to improve our lives.

Let’s explore the intersection of gardening and mental wellbeing.

Why This Matters

Mental health conditions are common. According to the Centers for Disease Control (USA CDC), the fraction to remember is 1 in 5. Amongst adults in the USA, 1 in 5 lives with a mental illness and 1 in 25 lives with a serious mental illness. Amongst youth, 1 in 5 have or will have a serious debilitating mental illness.

Lack of social connectedness and loneliness contribute to mental health symptoms. Recall my post on social connectedness and loneliness in which I reviewed the Meta-Gallup report, The Global State of Social Connections (The Global State of Social Connections. Key Findings.

https://www.gallup.com/analytics/509675/state-of-social-connections.aspx#jumpAlt1). Its key findings include the average percentage of the population of the world feeling fairly or very lonely: 24 %. Whether that percentage would rise or fall with the inclusion of countries which were not involved in the poll, like China, is unknown. 72% of the world’s population, as surveyed in this poll, felt fairly or very socially connected. Young people, aged 19 years old to 29 years old, reported feeling lonelier than people 65 years old and older.

State Strategies to Address Mental Health

New York has taken a bold step to address the mental health of its citizens. I am hopeful this is  a policy statement with teeth for enforcement. The state has set aside funding to address access to mental health treatment and to health insurance. NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) seems to be strategizing to implement the state’s plan. Check out a recent news release by NYS OMH: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/resources/newsltr/docs/omhnewswinter2024.pdf.

Other state governors have made similar commitments: https://www.nga.org/news/commentary/governors-prioritize-behavioral-health-in-2024-state-of-the-state-addresses/.

Gardening Contributes to Mental Wellbeing

Gardening offers us the gifts of Mother Earth. Otherwise, we would have no food to eat. Thank farmers for our food supply and you will be engaging in a gratitude exercise improving our mental wellbeing.

Gardening nourishes our spirit by linking us to nature.

Gardening connects us to other people. Whether you garden alone or with others, you need to secure supplies (compost, soil, seeds, tomato cages, planters, watering can, garden hose, etc).

Gardening enlists your attention because you are required to focus on a task which is an occasion to cultivate mindfulness.

Gardening exposes us to a symphony of birds, bees, crickets, cicadas, rustling grasses, the breeze, and the giggles of children handling an earthworm or a grasshopper for the first time. Suddenly, you have a musical occasion to set the stage for the anticipation of what can occur next. Recall the neurotransmitters involved in anticipation and the neurotransmitters released when you finally reach the anticipated experience.

Bending, kneeling, stretching, handling planters and gardening tools, and walking while gardening puts your body in motion, releasing endorphins, enkephalins, and endocannabinoids.

Learning something new exercises your cognitive muscles and allows you to feel competent in having acquired new information or a new skill.

Recall how pastimes (hobbies) and mental wellbeing are good companions.

By sharing with others, for example at a community garden, you can contribute to their happiness and you can be compassionate to ourselves when you realize you have needs and others help you.

Observe people who garden if you are not able bodied to do so yourself. Derive joy from their pleasure and connect with them socially.

Gardening Risks and Protective Strategies

• Soil contains microorganisms which can cause problems for some people.
• Using some gardening tools requires dexterity and caution. Ticks carrying Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses exist in the USA.
• Stagnant water is a medium for mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitoes may carry West Nile virus and other infections.
• Wear gloves when gardening.
• Apply sunblock on exposed skin. Psychiatric medications may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, increasing your risk for skin cancer and sunstroke.
• Apply insect repellent.
• Cover your head with a hat.
• Consider wearing a mask. The soil may harbour fungi (mold, mould) which when aspirated can cause infections in some people.
• Wear light coloured clothing in order to be able to see any insects attached to you and to prevent retaining heat under the clothing.
• Bathe after gardening and check your body for ticks and lesions.

Call to Action: Gardening for Mental Wellbeing

Not everyone has the skills or knowledge to be a farmer. Everyone is capable of growing plants to beautify Mother Earth.

Contact your municipality and inquire about community gardens. The municipality may offer composting classes.

Find out where the local university extension program is located. Extension programs provide learning opportunities to the public on agriculture (USDA website: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/how-we-work/extension).

Organize a group of friends or neighbours to participate in a gardening group. You can plant something in your apartment or in the yard of one of the group’s members. You may decide to visit local gardens to experience the beauty of nature as cultivated or protected by an institution (botanical garden) or by an individual. Be creative.

Be safe. Be social. Be happy.

Embrace gardening for your mental wellbeing. A creative spirit will take you far in life.

Disclaimer: The content of this post is not meant to substitute for consultation with your health care provider. Do not stop taking your medications without speaking with the person prescribing the medications.

Past posts related to today’s content:

Earth Day and Mental Wellbeing

Exercise and Mental Health

Happiness and Our Health

Loneliness. Social Connection, and Isolation: Impact on Mental Health

Mental Wellbeing and Poetry

Mindfulness and Mental Wellbeing

Music and Mental Health

Pastimes and Mental Wellbeing

Resources and references:

CDC (USA) About Mental Health: https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm

NYS OMH 2024 update and NYS budget: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/resources/newsltr/docs/omhnewswinter2024.pdf

How Gardening Affects Mental Health: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/how-gardening-affects-mental-health

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