Kids who grow up in green spaces are less likely to experience mental health problems later.

Aarhus University researchers studied nearly one million people, comparing the amount of green space surrounding their childhood homes with the risk of developing a mental illness later in life.

The study found that children surrounded by more green space had up to a 55% lower risk of developing a mental illness as an adult. This effect held even after researchers adjusted for other known risk factors like a family history of mental illness.

This study demonstrates that green spaces have a positive effect on mental health. Researchers say it emphasizes the need for designing greener communities in the future.