The Science and Research Behind Nature-Based Mental Health Practices

Peer-reviewed trials published in 2023 by the University of Melbourne’s School of Health Sciences found that 30-minute walks in natural settings lowered self-reported anxiety scores by measurable margins compared with indoor treadmill sessions of the same duration.

The findings arrive as Ballarat Health Services records continued demand for community mental-health support following the 2022-23 reporting period, when service presentations across regional Victoria rose above pre-pandemic levels.

Ballarat sites under study

Researchers tracked participants along the lakeside path at Ballarat Botanical Gardens and the sealed sections of the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail that skirt Lake Wendouree. Both routes feature flat terrain and consistent tree cover, conditions the study team identified as optimal for lowering cortisol readings within the first 15 minutes of activity.

Ballarat Health Services has incorporated the same two locations into its existing “Move for Mind” referral pathway, directing patients to supervised group walks on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Evidence from population data

The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2022 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing showed that 15 per cent of Australian adults experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress in the preceding four weeks. Follow-up analyses from the same dataset linked regular access to green space with lower distress scores in regional postcodes.

Participants in the Melbourne trial who walked the Ballarat routes three times weekly maintained lower distress markers at the eight-week follow-up mark.

Residents can start with the free maps available at the Ballarat Visitor Centre on Sturt Street or join the next scheduled session listed on the Ballarat Health Services website; anyone experiencing persistent low mood should consult their GP before beginning a new routine.