As the mental health of college students continues to be a concern in the United States, some academics believe that part of the solution lies in a simple, relatively inexpensive campus feature: nature.
There is a growing body of research showing that time outdoors is good for you, with some studies showing that as little as 10 minutes is enough to have significant mental and physical health benefits.
This research has spurred on a grassroots movement known as Nature Rx, which seeks to educate people about the healing power of nature.
At the University of Maryland, professors Jennifer D. Roberts and Shannon Jette have launched a Nature Rx program they believe is needed at the campus. As kinesiology professors within the university’s School of Public Health, Roberts and Jette are both interested in how our modern relationship with nature affects our health. Read more about JPB Fellow Jennifer Roberts’ research.