I did research about this as well as using outdoor education
as a intervention with young people in risk of commiting crime..
doctors often recomend depressed patients to take up exercise. I personally think there is something in it ... going back to where our anscestors came from rather than being forced into a world obbsessed with so called miracle drugs, cosmetics, money, possessons, bright lighting and google boxes..

It wont take away the symptoms but possibly allow a time for reflection and some space and interaction with nature and others.

Get out there and feel the elements. :)

P, Sheffield,

The University of Essex 'experiment' sounds very dodgy to me. The aim of depression treatment is not to make people "feel better" (even though they will), but the patients to function normally again. It is not possible to measure that with a simple questionnaire in which people rate themselves.

No doubt a walk in the countryside could form part of a treatment regime for depression, but it this little article seems to be saying that if you feel bad a walk in the park will make you feel better. That is just not universally true.

Niel Malan, Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa

It seems to me so obvious that it is healthier and nicer to spend some time outside, digging or walking or biking or catching things or whatever takes your fancy, and that probably the majority of people prescribed these drugs are not suffering from a 'chemical imbalance' but are leading unhealthy, unhappy lives! It is the life they live that is causing the problem, not some "technical fault" in their brains.
Of course in some cases medicine can be very helpful, if only to break the mental habit - its like a hole, once you fall in its hard to get out. but I really do think we live in such an unhealthy way. Many seem to think its normal to be stressed, crowded, harassed and under high expectations from those around us and ourselves. Look at a cat. He just likes to sit there looking out of the window or under a hedge. That is what we all need more of in our culture - for such a "wealthy" country it is strange we all carry on as though the roof were about to fall in - creating misery.

Spider, London,

Very worrying. A return to 'therapeutic work' by the back door?
There are some of us who 'experienced' the 'Industrial Rehabilitation Units' still around who will let you know that this sort of stuff only works when NOT forced.
Unfortunately the IRUs were not run or monitored properly, although started with equally positive intent.
A working holliday would be one thing but there would be severe problems if these were anything but voluntary. With the present NHS ethos there is no understanding of 'voluntary treatment' and refusal always leads to 'reprisals'.

J D S, Cardiff, Wales UK

The beauty of the English countryside, peace and tranquility, the mild exercise, the possibility of sighting interesting wildlife can only be good for everybody, mental health problems or not. I spent 20 minutes watching a woodpecker last week and arrived home feeling much better about things, despite being rather wet.
But I loath gardening so much that the thought of work on a care farm is likely to make me depressed. Perhaps some could be prescribed a term baking with the produce of the care farm?

Cam, essex,

I strongly believe that due to the British Weather during the wintry and cold months, it is a normal effect of DEPRESSION in the degree and age factors. When a person is young, married and full energy to work or even at hom, there is no depression except at times. When a person sit/relax/reduce the physical activities, it built up the mind so many auto thoughts which brings nothing else but the degree of DEPRESSION, which would never ever cure a person with CHEMICALS/DRUGS eg PROZAC etc. cost to the tax payers and damaging the mental and physical health. The chief Executive of THE MIND reaffirmed it that EXERCISE AND SOCIAL/FAMILY/ CLUBS OR DAY CENTRES are the remedial answers instead of ANTI-DEPRESSANTS TABLETS.

Open Air, Green Gardens, Exercise, walk about, talk about and thinking some thing POSTIVITE always would help the patients, which costing £231m to the NHS/Govt.paid by the TAX PAYERS.
I believe more to the NATUREOPATHY OR HOMOPATHY THAT WOULD LONGER TIME BUT SURELY CURE.

S VERMA, Newe Southgate, UK