Urban Green Spaces as Tools for Mental Health Recovery: A Convergence of Landscape Architecture, Environmental Psychology, and Public Policy

Abstract

More people are now realizing that parks, gardens and green corridors play an important role in keeping our mental health in check in crowded cities. The paper examines how urban green spaces are used by connecting landscape architecture, psychology and public policy to help city dwellers feel better. Informed by research and studies, the work explains how design, psychology and governance work together to enhance the benefits green spaces provide. It uses both numbers and expressions to draw conclusions from mental health information from urban citizens and from interviews with landscape architects, psychologists and policymakers. We found that good green spaces are related to lower stress, anxiety and depression, while promoting community unity and getting people moving. The presence of biodiversity, access to the site and play activities that involve several senses increase the positive impact on kids’ mental health. Social policies directed to fair allocation, ongoing upkeep and community participation make these problems less important. People are challenged by the pressure to rbanize, not enough money for health and cultural obstacles. The study describes how using design, knowledge of psychology and related policy tools together promotes recovery of mental ealth in urban green spaces. This research provides a deeper knowledge needed for the creation of healthier and tougher cities.