The Importance Of Human Ecology

The mental health profession can be impacted by the theme, nature. Many mental health practitioners integrate characteristics of Eco therapy into their practices. Eco therapy is also referred to as nature therapy and is based on the belief that people are connected and impacted by the surrounding natural environment. Eco therapy introduces opportunity to explore relationships with Earth and its systems. The beneficial effects that are achieved through nature result from what is seen and experienced through all senses. (goodtherapy.org). Having a colorful understanding of the human experience can enhance the abilities to explore Eco therapy and its diverse impact on various populations.

Mental health is defined as our emotional psychological and social well-being. It affects how one thinks, feels and acts. Mental health also helps determine how someone handles stress, relate to others and make choices. Maintaining healthy mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence and throughout adulthood. People who suffer from mental health disorders often see a change in one’s own mood, thinking and behavior. One in 5 Americans adults experience a mental health issue. One in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression. And 1 in 20 Americans lived with a serious mental health illness (Mental Health Myths and Facts). Factors contribute to mental health problems including; biological facts, such as genes or brain chemistry, life experiences, such as traumatic events or abuse, or family history or mental health problems. Optimisum allows people to realize their full potential, cope with stress of life, work productively

(AS90811) Explain how human activity in a biophysical environment has consequences for a sustainable future

Mental health is defined as our emotional psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. Mental health also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Maintaining healthy mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence and throughout adulthood. People suffering from mental health disorders often see a change in their mood, thinking and behavior. One in 5 Americans adults experience a mental health issue. One in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression. And 1 in 20 Americans lived with a serious mental health illness (Mental Health Myths and Facts). Factors contribute to mental health problems including; biological facts, such as genes or brain chemistry, life experiences, such as traumatic events or abuse, or family history or mental health problems. Positive allows people to realize their full potential, cope with stress of life, work productively and making meaningful contributions to society (What is

The human microbiome has received more attention in the last few years as scientists have begun to link health and mental wellbeing with these internal synergists. Murray and Manary (2015) define a microbiome as an “ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms living inside the body…100 trillion organisms, including anaerobic bacteria, archaea, yeast and parasites.” Humans are born and immediately exposed to these microbes, creating their own microbiome within hours. The natural birth baby inherits microbes of the mother and caesarian section babies receive microbiota of those who handle them first (Ley, 2006). Genes, and the environment from which they are born into, shape their future microbiome (Ley, Peterson,

However, emerging evidence focuses on an alternate therapy used in alleviating Depression, and it’s based in nature. Termed ‘ecotherapy’ by Mind, a charity group based in the UK that facilitated this research, ecotherapy is described as a whole range of green activities that can be beneficial to people’s mental health and well-being; things like gardening, cycling, and conservation (Jackson, 8). Professor Jules Pretty, Head of the Department of Biological Research at the University of Essex described a

Similar to psychology, health is an ongoing developmental process that changes overtime. In studying health, as it pertains to psychology, we must be aware of the biological and environmental factors that are associated with health. On some level, every

From a Darwinian perspective depression has evolved as an adaptive advantage to fitness; as it is so prevalent in the population (). The infection-defence hypothesis of depression, suggests that moods are responsible for many physical and behavioural responses within humans, and has played an adaptive role in evolution, to help fight off existing infections and by helping individuals and their family members to avoid new ones (). In support of the hypothesis, Miller and Raison () suggest that genetic variation that endorse depression helped ancestors fight off infection, they implied that depression has a relation to inflammation or an over activated immune system; people who suffer with depression tend to have higher levels of inflammation, even if they are not fighting an infection. Moreover, foods which are generally consumed more, during the phase of depression can aid the immune system; high intake of carbohydrates can influence immune function as it causes changes in cell activity and proinflammotary cytokines () (Braun & Von Duvillard, 2004). This highlights that depression is offering an evolutionary advantage, in the context of having a health benefit.

With this report Mind calls for a new green agenda for mental health, following growing evidence in support of an accessible, cost-effective and natural addition to existing treatment options – ecotherapy. Ecotherapy is a natural, free and accessible treatment that boosts our mental wellbeing. Whether it’s a horticultural development programme supervised by a therapist or a simple walk in the park, being outdoors and being active is proven to benefit our mental health. As the cost and prescribing of drugs continues to rise, and 93 per cent of GPs say they have prescribed

Bacteria, fungi, viruses and other organisms that make up the digestive system of our body actually outnumber the quantity of our cells. Over time research has made clear that these small organisms play a very important role in our health - both physically and mentally. All these microbes that inhabit our body are called microbiome, and they are estimated to weigh between two to six pounds. Most of these microbes live in our gut and intestines and they help us digest food, incorporate vitamins, and fight infections. Recent studies have revealed that bacteria in our digestive system not only affect our physical health, but it also plays a major role in our mental health. Gut microbiome has been linked to a range of complex behaviors, such

Scientific evidence shows that stress can destroy the beneficial bacteria found within the gut. One study showed that during an exam week, stool samples taken from university students contained fewer of the lactobacilli bacteria than they had during the relatively untroubled first days of the semester. These stress-induced changes to the microbiome then impact the brain and behavior due to defensive molecules produced in the gut during stress. These defensive molecules disrupt the brain neurochemistry and can make you more vulnerable to anxiety and

Although gross medical advancements have allowed the human population to live longer and fuller lives without the threat of death from infectious diseases, it is apparent that we are now dealing with a different phenomenon that may be just as harmful to our health. The impact of psychological, social and environmental factors from our daily lives is having a drastic impression on the mental and physical wellbeing of our society. It has been shown in various studies that psychological and neurological factors influence the immune system and can have an effect on our health (Breedlove, Rosenzweig & Watson, 2010). As we allow various stressors, poisonous substances, unhealthy diets and lack of rest to overwhelm our existence, we are

I believe that the ways human beings behave can affect the environment in good and bad ways. The environment is a reflection of us and we are a reflection of the environment. Since everything is interconnected, it is a given that if there is something abnormal going on in the environment then it is because we are not doing things in harmony with the ecosystem. For example, Living in an urban setting like a city is very different than living in a suburban setting or rural setting. I believe the air quality is much different compared to both because there are factories and industrial companies in the urban environment and much more trees in the suburban/rural setting; In the major cities in the U.S for example, we can make that distinction. In

Different aspects of my observations can be explained with various theories that are discussed in class. Humanism theory by Maslow, Behaviorism theory by Skinner, and the Ecological theory by Bronfenbenner all relate to how the children are developing. They also engage in different types of play, some participating in only either solitary or social play.

In the Macro level of social work, communities are the primary settings for human behavior. Communities are clusters of people who have something in common. A major social work perspective views communities as entities where citizens can organize or be organized in order to address mutual concerns and improve their over-all quality of life. Throughout this paper I will discuss four conceptual perspectives of communities. I will cover the following, Human Ecology, Socio-Psychological, Structural, and Functionalist.