A major study covering 11.4 million psychiatric hospitalizations from 2000 to 2019 across seven countries found that higher levels of greenery were consistently associated with fewer such cases. The analysis used satellite-based assessment of green spaces (NDVI) and also accounted for climate, urbanization level, air pollution, sex, and age.
The results showed that the presence of green spaces reduces the risk of hospitalization by 7%, and for some disorders by as much as 9%. This was especially clear in cities: according to the estimates, even a 10% increase in green space could reduce the number of severe cases per thousand people from 100,000 a year. This is not just a pretty statistic — it means real lives, less pressure on health systems, and a more sustainable society.
