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A study in Amsterdam concludes that living near greenery reduces illness

A team from the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam reviewed the health records of nearly 350,000 people across the Netherlands, registered with their GP for over a year, to come up with the conclusion that closeness to green spaces was very beneficial for some common disorders.

The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health and it said that proximity to ‘green spaces’ can especially bring down the rates of mental illness.

According to the research, yearly rates of 15 out of 24 major physical disorders were also noticeably lower among people living closer to green spaces. Also, the health benefits were optimal when greenery was within a one-kilometre radius from the place of residence. Anxiety disorders and depression also showed lower rates in greener areas.

Dr Jolanda Maas of the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam was quoted saying on BBC, “It clearly shows that green spaces are not just a luxury but they relate directly to diseases and the way people feel in their living environments.”

Most of the diseases which are related to green spaces are diseases which are highly prevalent and costly to treat so policy makers need to realize that this is something they may be able to diminish with green spaces,” he added.