Why stressed Hongkongers should take a hike, not a pill, and let nature heal them

Depression, attention deficit disorder, chronic disease – immersing yourself in the smells and sounds of nature with a slow walk in the countryside can relieve them all and do wonders to ease the pressure of city living, say eco-therapists

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A walk on Hong Kong’s wild side can ease some of the stress of living in one of the world’s busiest cities.

Published: 6:49pm, 10 Dec 2017Updated: 8:35pm, 11 Dec 2017

Can eco-therapy help with anxiety and depression?

The short answer: yes

Caroline Sprod enjoys hiking with her husband and dogs every weekend near their home on South Lantau. “For me, walking in nature isn’t just about getting exercise,” says the development director for Asia-Pacific for the non-profit organisation Room to Read. “It’s also de-stressing. Life in Hong Kong can get pretty hectic, so being in nature helps relieve some of the pressure. I see it as an escape and as a way to connect with myself and the natural world.”

Sprod has also gone on nature walks with Kembali, a Hong Kong-based company that offers guided forest therapy walks, or forest “bathing” experiences.

Caroline Sprod is Room to Read’s development director, Asia-Pacific.

Forest bathing is a form of eco-therapy, which describes a range of nature-based treatment programmes aimed at improving participants’ mental and physical well-being. Eco-therapy is not new; in fact, ancient cultures have long understood the healing power of nature. In Japan, forest therapy, known as shinrin-yoku, has been part of the country’s public health programme since 1982.

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Eco-therapy is thought to be so effective for stress, anxiety and depression that more Western doctors are urging their patients to take a hike instead of popping a pill. Michael Eason is one psychologist who believes that eco-therapy has its place in the treatment of some conditions.