Following a review of data from a nationwide database, Danish researchers report that individuals who lived near a park, forest, or other green space as children appear to have up to a 55% lower risk for mental health issues later in life. Lead researcher Dr. Kristine Engemann notes, “Ensuring access to green space and enhancing opportunities for a diverse range of uses, especially in densifying urban environments, could be an important tool for managing and minimizing the global burden of disease increasingly dominated by psychiatric disorders.”

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, February 2019