Griffin Liza, Petsou Athina, Hynes Ruth, Moore Gemma
The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, University College London, London, UK.
Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, University College London, London, UK.
Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2025 May;30(2):195-197. doi: 10.1111/camh.12762. Epub 2025 Mar 10.
There is growing evidence about the positive impact of greenspaces on mental health and wellbeing. In their various forms, greenspaces such as parks, gardens, sports fields, and open spaces serve as crucial public amenities. This paper contributes to current debates on the mental health benefits of rural and urban environments by arguing for a nuanced and contextual understanding that goes beyond the urban-rural dichotomy, as access to these spaces has been shown to reduce stress and significantly improve mental wellbeing in both urban and rural settings. Through a critical examination of the literature, we focus on specific characteristics of greenspaces connected to mental health benefits. We then explore the ways in which specific urban environments and their qualities play crucial roles in mental health outcomes. The paper discusses the unique challenges and benefits of urban and rural greenspaces, emphasising the need for context-specific strategies. We argue that urban planning and policy must prioritise the quality of greenspaces, particularly in urban environments, to recognise them as fundamental public health infrastructure and maximise their mental health benefits.
越来越多的证据表明，绿地空间对心理健康和幸福感具有积极影响。公园、花园、运动场和开放空间等各种形式的绿地空间是至关重要的公共设施。本文通过主张超越城乡二分法的细致入微且结合具体情境的理解，为当前有关城乡环境对心理健康益处的辩论做出了贡献，因为已表明进入这些空间可减轻压力并显著改善城乡环境中的心理健康。通过对文献的批判性审视，我们关注与心理健康益处相关的绿地空间的具体特征。然后，我们探讨特定城市环境及其特质在心理健康结果中发挥关键作用的方式。本文讨论了城乡绿地空间的独特挑战和益处，强调了制定因地制宜策略的必要性。我们认为，城市规划和政策必须优先考虑绿地空间的质量，尤其是在城市环境中，将其视为基本的公共卫生基础设施，并最大限度地发挥其对心理健康的益处。
