Depressed? See an Eco-Therapist.

Recently, I came across an article on the "Adventure Life" web site titled "Cure For Depression? Get Outside...", where an author speaks his mind about a new kind of therapy called "eco-therapy" or "eco-psychology." I was curious, what Mother Nature had to do with depression.

What was not clear to me was, whether "eco-psychologists " focus their treatments on "regular depressed people" or "eco-disturbed patients" ?

"Eco-disturbed patients"? you ask

...those who can't handle the thought that they — or anyone — are in some way contributing to global warming, species extinction and dwindling natural resources..

They even came up with a word for this "disease"- "Eco-Anxiety"

What is not clear , whether eco-therapy is more of the latest in a line of money-making gimmicks targeted at the environmentally conscious or a practical psychological treatment.The American Psychological Association has no official position on the merits of what it calls an emerging field.

Another question is:
If the prescribed treatment for "eco-anxiety " may be as simple as taking a hike or spending more time outdoors in general, do you really need to come up with a new kind of therapy ?

If it's already known, that spending time outdoors has a tremendous effect on human body ( physiologically and physiologically), did the University of Essex in England really have to make a research "that a daily dose of walking outside could be as effective as taking antidepressant drugs for treating mild to moderate depression'?

I know one thing for sure- I don't need an English scientist or self-proclaimed "eco-therapist" to tell me to spend more time outdoors. And , No , I am not going to hug any trees , keep a journal or "reconnect with nature". Spending time outside doesn't have to be about "reconnecting us with our animal roots". It's about enjoying yourself, your favorite activity, having fun and admiring Nature's Beauty.