Turning Vacant Lots Into Green Spaces Can Improve Mental Health

Having access to even small green spaces can reduce symptoms of depression for people who live near them, especially in low-income neighborhoods. A new study led by Penn researchers emphasizes how much of an impact your environment can have on your mental health. The paper found an association between urban restoration efforts in Philadelphia and the mental health of city residents. “Vacant lot greening is a very simple structural intervention that’s relatively low-cost and that can have a potentially wide or broad population impact,” says study lead author Eugenia C. South, MD, MSHP, an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine. “Performing simple interventions to the neighborhood environment has an impact on health.”

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