A little exposure to the sounds of nature can help maintain people’s mental health, a new study has revealed. For this study, data was collected from more than 7,500 people as part of the BBC’s Forest 404 series. The BBC’s Forest 404 series is a podcast that depicts a world without nature. The study found that participants reported relief from stress and mental fatigue with the sound of birds.
Lead researcher Alex Smalley, from the University of Exeter, says: “The lockdown helped people rediscover the natural sounds around them. Our findings suggest that experiencing these experiences could be beneficial for both mental health and conservation.” Alex Smalley added: “If we hope to harness the health benefits of nature in the future, we must ensure that everyone today has access to opportunities to promote positive experiences with the natural world.” He also said therapeutic effects were reported by listening to landscape sounds such as waves or rain.
Kamna Chibber, Head of Department, Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, spoke to HealthShots about how nature sounds help with mental health. According to her, nature has a significant positive effect on people’s mental health and well-being. It’s not just about being close to nature; it is also about the quality of the natural environment, and for anyone who can spend time outside surrounded by nature, listening to the sounds of nature, be it the rustling of tree leaves, birdsong or animal sounds, it has the tendency to their state of well-being.
Being in the midst of nature is known to cause feelings of happiness and joy, especially for people who prefer to be outdoors and in that environment.
Read all the latest news, breaking news and IPL 2022 Live Updates here.
