The Underaddressed Crisis in Modern Mental Health: Our Relationship with Nature
I have worked in direct mental health care for 14 years, and I can confidently state that the most underacknowledged, underrecognized, and underwhelmingly underaddressed component is a client's natural relationship with nature.
Nature might seem like a simple concept at first, but that is the very point: it is real, natural, and consistent. Nature will not and cannot abandon you; you are nature.
We have become profoundly disconnected from our original environment, and this disconnection has developed into a crisis. Research has shown that a lack of connectedness to nature is a root cause of the current environmental crisis. As a mental health clinician, I see firsthand a similar disconnection impacting the severe decline of our mental health today. While the crisis is significant, the cure is as simple as the premise: reconnection.
Biophilia and Biological Need
Have you ever wondered why humans have always been drawn to, dependent on, and fascinated by the natural world? The term ‘biophilia’ literally translates to "love of life”, and suggests that our fascination and desire to interact with nature is rooted in an innate, biologically driven need to connect with other forms of life.
Nature is not only beautiful and expansive; it is a vital component of the human experience, supporting emotional regulation, physical health, social connectedness, sustained attention, and everything in between.
The truth is, we are animals, just like the creatures among us. We are classified as mammals and members of the subgroup: primates. We may be more advanced in tools and thought, but our fundamental place on this planet is connected to the millions of species that live alongside us.
Consider our history: Before electricity and clocks, humans followed the sun to regulate their sleep/wake cycle. We grew our food and understood that the health of the land directly affected our ability to nourish our bodies. We relied on our senses to understand our environment, worked as teams, accepted weather constraints as natural parts of a cycle, and were much more physically involved with our existence. Early humans were hunters and gatherers, and from an evolutionary standpoint, were designed for a nature-driven existence.
Now, we drive past concrete and litter to the grocery store, viewing food as a consumer product rather than something we are directly responsible for growing. We view fields rich in biodiversity as investment opportunities for developers, while humans retreat into indoor environments that the brain doesn't recognize.
The Science of Connection
Did you know that the human brain reacts positively to the sound of a bird chirping? A bird’s song has been shown to reduce stress and negative emotions while restoring cognition, with effects that can last for several hours, similar to a yoga session.
This is explainable from a human-nature relationship standpoint. A long time ago, our ancestors relied on their senses for survival. Chirping birds meant safety because they signaled a water source nearby and an environment free of predators. The brain still recognizes this sound, but humans have gone inside and shut the door. Next time you feel anxious for no reason, play bird noises and see what your brain does.
As humans, we have continued to develop unrealistic expectations of our natural environment, further disconnecting us from our natural existence. We expect fresh natural fruit in winter, expect an abundance of crops and livestock despite droughts and limited land, and have forgotten our place with nature. We have forgotten that we do not own nature; we are nature, and by destroying nature, we destroy ourselves.
The Path Forward: Reconnection
So what do we do? First, we need to start reminding each other of how naturally drawn we are to nature.
One of the easiest ways I explain the human-nature connection is to ask people:
"What do you bring someone who is sick in the hospital?"-- Flowers
"Where do we go when we book trips?"-- Beaches, mountains, lakes, etc.
"What do many people own and care for to provide them with companionship, safety, and routine?" –Dogs, cats, fish, etc.
Animals are a perfect example of ecotherapy. The comfort animals consistently provide humans is profound, and society has advanced to the point of acknowledging animals as an integral form of mental and physical health (service dogs). Imagine how much could change if we viewed all of nature in this manner.
This blog post will be the first of a series over the next 12 months that will include the following:
The research that supports the importance of the human-nature connection.
Specific mental health conditions that benefit from a relationship with nature for optimal treatment and management.
The unfortunate reality is that green spaces and nature are becoming inaccessible to those living with disabilities and lower socioeconomic means, which results in increased physical and psychological adverse outcomes for adults and children in urban areas.
The exciting and positive potential that reconnecting humans with nature will result in increased respect, conservation, and cohabitation, thus preserving the remaining green spaces we have.
Written by: Mary Ridley, LCSW | 12/28/2025
