Farm therapy is effective mental health treatment
Just as it's been shown that children who play outdoors are less likely to develop ADD or ADHD, Norwegian researchers have found that spending time on a farm can help those with mental illnesses manage their symptoms. Subjects that routinely cared for farm animals -- mostly cows and horses -- showed a lower level of stress along with an increase in confidence in managing new situations. The technique is known as "Green Care," and it's being employed more and more to treat schizophrenia, anxiety, personality disorders in US and Europe.
At a time where many are worried about the effects that come along with taking prescription medications indefinitely, health professionals are looking into more holistic forms of therapy. In the past, caring for a dog or cat has been shown to ease some forms of mental illness, but they can be a pretty full-time commitment -- sometimes I think my pets are trying to drive me insane. Farm animals, on the other hand, only need a few hours of attention each day, so they're much more conducive to a therapy routine.
It's interesting that the research carried out on topics like Green Care and Nature Deficit Disorder seem to uphold a set of conventional wisdoms -- for instance that TV rots your brain, and that children need to spend time playing outdoors. Usually, I take it for granted that a lot of that stuff is bogus, but there's obviously a kernel of truth in the idea that getting in touch with nature has specific health benefits. Nice.
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