• 15 May, 2025
• Magazica

Nature as Medicine: How Canadians Are Turning to the Outdoors to Heal

Nature-based therapy known as eco-therapy includes multiple practices which use the healing power of natural surroundings to benefit people. Studies show that outdoor activities such as forest bathing and hiking as well as gardening or tree sitting serve as validated methods for stress and anxiety reduction and depression management. Environmental Research published findings in 2024 which demonstrated that forest therapy and related methods effectively enhanced emotional health while reducing psychological suffering among participants which supports the intuitive belief that nature possesses healing qualities (Environmental Research, 2024).

The expanding acknowledgment of nature’s therapeutic benefits has led to innovative initiatives such as PaRx which serves as Canada’s inaugural national program prescribing nature-based activities. The BC Parks Foundation initiated a program which enables licensed healthcare professionals to prescribe outdoor time with a standard recommendation of two hours weekly spent outside in at least 20-minute periods. Patients who obtain a PaRx prescription become eligible for a complimentary annual Parks Canada Discovery Pass which grants them entry to more than 80 national parks and historic sites. According to Dr. Melissa Lem from Vancouver who serves as both a family physician and director of PaRx the scientific data confirms that nature functions as an effective and freely available resource to enhance our well-being (PaRx 2024; NPR 2022).

The healing power of nature serves as an ancient practice for many communities, particularly Indigenous peoples. People recognized the land as a source of strength, identity, and balance long before eco-therapy became a popular term. Indigenous-led healing programs throughout Canada are reconnecting people with their traditional territories by using cultural practices such as ceremonial gatherings, medicine walks and storytelling. The Egowadiya’dagenha’ Program at Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario serves as one example of these initiatives. Its name, meaning “they will be helping,” reflects its mission: Six Nations Health Services (2023) shows how Indigenous knowledge systems connect participants to their mental well-being by establishing their relationship with the land.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly sped up people’s movement back towards nature. During lockdowns that forced people to stay inside while anxiety levels rose many Canadians discovered comfort through outdoor activities. People used trails, green spaces and community gardens as places to both get exercise and achieve mental clarity. The importance of spending time outdoors has stayed essential even though daily life has regained its regular flow. Canadians are adapting their way of living to incorporate natural elements because nature serves as more than recreational space—it strengthens resilience.

Public health officials along with urban planners observed these lifestyle changes. A trend exists in Canadian cities to incorporate additional green spaces into urban development. Modern urban developments now recognize rooftop gardens and tree-lined bike paths along with upgraded public parks as essential components of public health infrastructure beyond their visual appeal. A Nature Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 2024 study revealed lower psychological distress levels among residents near green spaces even in densely populated areas showing mental health advantages from accessible nature especially for underprivileged communities.

The wellness industry is now adopting this growing trend. Eco-retreats along with outdoor wellness programs and nature therapy guides experience rapid growth throughout Canada. People seeking wellness are choosing to visit locations like Quebec’s thermal baths and the Rocky Mountains’ yoga retreats to find relaxation through natural land connections. Influencers on social media are advocating for more time spent outdoors rather than on screens while encouraging followers to disconnect digitally and experience nature.

You can embrace this wellness shift without traveling long distances or making financial investments. Walking through a park or gardening on a balcony and sitting quietly outdoors each produce significant mood and stress level improvements. It’s about mindfulness, intention, and presence—not perfection.

The current wellness movement shows that nature has evolved from a mere background element into an essential component for maintaining our health. Better mental well-being for people throughout Canada could start with simple outdoor strolls.

References

Environmental Research. (2024). A systematic review examines the elements that affect nature-based interventions for mental health improvement. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024008043

PaRx – A Prescription for Nature. BC Parks Foundation. https://www.parkprescriptions.ca

NPR (2022). Canadian doctors have the ability to prescribe free passes to national parks for their patients. https://www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1079356799

Six Nations Health Services. (2023). Egowadiya’dagenha’ Program – Land-Based Healing. https://www.snhs.ca

Nature Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. (2024). Research explores how local green spaces impact mental health among disadvantaged populations. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-024-02970-1