Episode 32: Green, Blue, and the Mind — Why Nature Matters for Mental Health in the Climate Era

12/10/2025 5 min
Episode 32: Green, Blue, and the Mind — Why Nature Matters for Mental Health in the Climate Era

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Episode Synopsis

On this episode of ECO-ECHO, host Nil Kıran sits down with Bartu Altınbaş to explore how access to green and blue spaces—parks, forests, rivers, and lakes—shapes our mental well-being, especially in the face of climate change.Drawing on research from the World Health Organization, Frontiers in Public Health, and Scientific Reports, Bartu explains how contact with nature reduces stress, lowers depression risk, and even improves cardiovascular health. The discussion also highlights urban-focused findings, including Professor Andrea Mechelli’s Urban Mind project, which shows that even 15 minutes of daily exposure to trees or birdsong can boost mental health.Together, Nil and Bartu dive into the role of blue spaces—water features that calm and restore—as well as pioneering initiatives like the Blue-Green Cities project in the UK and the work of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, which integrates ecological science with human well-being.This conversation makes one thing clear: in an era of climate change and rising mental health challenges, protecting and expanding our natural spaces isn’t optional—it’s essential.

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