Your prescription dose of nature
Get outside!
There are dozens of natural spaces to explore in Ithaca—many right on the IC campus.
Why Nature Rx?
There is a growing mental health crisis among college students.
For the past two decades, the mental health of undergraduates has been deteriorating with 30-50% having a mental illness, anxiety being the most common. While this crisis can not be attributed to any one specific issue, it is thought that increased academic strain, pressure from parents and family members, and social isolation are large factors.
Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened this crisis. A survey conducted in 2020 showed that 71% of students indicated feeling increased anxiety and stress levels. Due to the growing need for mental health services, many college psychiatric services have been stretched thin and are unable to accommodate the growing need.
While not a cure for mental illness, spending time outside has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and can be helpful for managing other symptoms associated with mental illness.
