Green Libraries

Spending any amount of time in or with nature has the result of creating a positive mindset. This human-ecological Interaction has been the subject of multiple academic assessments and has been labelled ‘ecotherapy’, a positive psychotherapeutic technique, that advocates this interaction with nature produces multiple positive effects in not only improving mental health but also reducing stress, depression. and anxiety, whilst boosting energy levels concentration and life satisfaction.

There is also the ‘green gym’ physical health and fitness benefits of exercising outdoors as well as potential positive interactions with other individuals similarly enjoying the natural surroundings.    

Engagement with nature can take on many forms, whether that’s a walk in the park, adventure in a wilderness area, nature watching or a few hours gardening (‘horticultural therapy’). The process of getting away from the office or home to spend time in the natural environment has multiple benefits. Even creating artistic representation of nature or just looking at images of greenery has been proven to provide a mood boost.

Our university is surrounded by superb 'green' sites, the vast majority of which are free to visit and offer a wide variety of natural landscapes and opportunities to get close to wild creatures. See here for more details. Some local sites also offer health and wellbeing events, for example, the Forestry Commission's Guisborough Forest offers a range of activities as part of their Feel Good in the Forest project.

All Teesside University students have access to a range of resources to help support and maintain good mental health, whether you have a diagnosis or not. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our support services if you need help or further information. 

Ecotherapy further reading

Jordan, M. and Hinds, J. (eds) (2016) Ecotherapy : theory, research and practice. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Summers, J.K. and Vivian, D.N. (2018) ‘Ecotherapy - A Forgotten Ecosystem Service: A Review’, Frontiers in psychology, 9, pp. 1389–1389. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01389 .

Wijaya Mulya, T., et al. (2024) ‘Ecotherapy through a discursive lens: nature-based activities, mental health, and local constructions of human-nature relationship’, Journal of adventure education and outdoor learning, pp. 1–17. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2024.2384729 .