Urban woodland improvements linked to lower antidepressant use

A large-scale study published in The Lancet Planetary Health suggests that improving local urban woodlands is linked to a reduction in the use of medications for depression and anxiety. Researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow analyzed data from over 129,000 people in Scotland over a five-year period.

The study focused on the impact of the Woods In and Around Towns (WIAT) program managed by Scottish Forestry. This initiative prioritizes disadvantaged communities by making local woodlands more accessible and welcoming through improved walking paths, better signage, and enhanced management.

Findings indicate that individuals living within a 10-minute walk of an improved woodland were 10% less likely to be prescribed antidepressants and 6% less likely to be prescribed anti-anxiety medication. The researchers noted that these benefits remained significant even when accounting for demographics and poverty, suggesting that the woodland improvements themselves—rather than just the socioeconomic status of residents—contribute to better mental health outcomes.