Fresh air. Green spaces. The feeling of grass beneath your feet. Humans have always relied on nature for survival and well-being, but in an increasingly urban and digital world, that connection is fading. Today, many people spend more time surrounded by roads, office buildings, and screens than by the natural environments that have sustained us for generations.

At the same time, mental health conditions are rising at an alarming rate. More than one billion people worldwide live with a mental health disorder. It seems as though societies are becoming increasingly detached from the natural world; some healthcare professionals are asking an unexpected question: Could nature itself be part of the cure?

A new approach has emerged to tackle the growing reliance on medication for mental health conditions: nature prescriptions. Simple and cost-effective, these programs enable doctors and health professionals to prescribe nature-based activities through leaflets, calendars, and guided outdoor experiences, helping to improve patients’ physical health and overall wellbeing.

Click on the story below to listen to my conversation with holistic health expert Randall Hansen, Ph.D., and Gareth Presch, CEO of the World Health Innovation Summit.