One in four people living in Europe experience at least one significant episode of mentail ill health during their lives, so recent evidence indicating that access to green spaces has a positive effect on well being is worthy of considerable attention. Today I spoke at a conference organised by MIND (National Association for Mental Health) designed to explore the role that ecotherapy and the environment can play in encouraging positive mental health. Surely the fact that putting the environment centre stage will not only protect the planet for future generations and enable us to make the transition to a zero carbon economy, but also contribute to overcoming mental illness, is enough to prompt a major shift in emphasis from our government and governments across the EU?
