October is Mental Health Awareness month in New Zealand and the theme this year is ‘Belonging Matters’.
Ko au ko koe, ko koe ko au — I am you, and you are me. (*1)
Shedwood Bush Betterers, (*2) the local volunteer arm that coordinates the rejuvenation of Shedwood Bush, is built around three important volunteering values:
1. Building Social Connection: connecting volunteers with shared interests,(trapping, weed busting, or helping with promotion);
2. Creating a Sense of Purpose: boosting self-esteem, pride, and life satisfaction;
3. Shifting Focus Outward: towards creating a sustainable resource for the whole community to enjoy, for generations to come.
Personally, the companionship of playful native birds like Toutouwai, (South Island Robin), Tui, Kereru and Korimako (Bellbird) puts me in a very relaxed state. Shedwood Bush is their home and it thrills me that we’re making their home safer from predators and full of native seeds and berries that keep them happy enough to keep singing.
In Japan, they call this interaction Shinrin-yoku, or Forest Bathing. Can you appreciate the analogy that we fill ourselves with plenty of mental and emotional dust everyday which can be cleaned off with a simple Bush walk?
Here’s a brief look at some of the scientific rationale behind this concept.
Birdsong: 1. Attention Restoration Theory (ART) suggests that exposure to natural environments replenishes our cognitive resources depleted by urban settings and digital screens; 2. Parasympathetic Activation from hearing birdsong activates the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure, promoting a state of relaxation; 3. Emotional Regulation: Birdsong often evokes positive emotional responses, helping to enhance overall emotional well-being. (*3)
Exercise: Walking triggers the growth of new microscopic blood vessels (capillaries) around individual muscle fibers. This shortens the distance that oxygen and nutrients need to travel to create energy and remove toxins from the human body.
Native Forest smells: Trees and plants release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) called phytoncides to protect themselves from insects and microbes. Inhaling these airborne chemicals produces distinct systemic effects: 1. GABA Receptor Pathways: Certain phytoncides interact with GABA receptors in the brain, exerting a mild, natural anti-anxiety effect that promotes relaxation. 2. Immune-Neuro Axis Boost: Inhaling phytoncides increases the activity and count of Natural Killer (NK) immune cells and anti-cancer proteins. (*4)
Brainwaves: Electroencephalogram (EEG) studies reveal that forest exposure increases alpha brainwaves (8–12 Hz), associated with a state of relaxed alertness, and frontal theta waves (4–8 Hz), while decreasing high-beta activity linked to hypervigilance. (*5)
Cost: It’s actually free to walk up to Shedwood Bush and it’s always better with friends. Wear appropriate clothing, take a snack and some water.
Enjoy!
Related Links:
1. https://mentalhealth.org.nz/get-involved/join-a-campaign/mental-health-awareness-week/
2. https://www.tapaweraconnect.org/shedwood-bush
4. https://neurosity.co/guides/forest-bathing-nature-nervous-system
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5896408/