Prescribed Outside

 The impacts of mental health are taking a toll on Whatcom County community members and Western students alike. Ecotherapy might provide the solution.

A guided walk through Fairhaven Park, Jan 26. Walks like these have been shown to help those dealing with mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression and substance use disorders. //Photo by Nathan Barber

Story by Sydney Poulin // Photos by Nathan Barber

March 15, 2024

During the pandemic, April Claxton spent many days seated in Fairhaven Park with her back rooted against a fibrous cedar tree. Though this specific tree may have appeared ordinary to anybody else passing through the trail system, to Claxton, it was a consistent source of clarity and solace. 

Noticing the minuscule details of the forest has always been a way for Claxton to ground herself. Grazing her fingertips across the dewey moss, smelling the leathered soil or gazing upward at the sun filtering through the forest canopy, has always allowed Claxton to return to nature as a place of healing. 

Claxton created the organization Among the Trees PNW, a guided walking program grounded in the healing properties of nature. Claxton’s organization branches from ecotherapy, an umbrella term used to describe a variety of techniques that utilize nature as a primary means to improve psychological health. 

Claxton’s services also focus on the mindfulness practice shinrin-yoku, otherwise known as forest bathing. This practice invites the body and mind into an induced state of relaxation using sensory immersion. Through guided forest bathing, Claxton helps participants absorb the therapeutic effects of nature via sound, texture and scent.

“If I can just hold that space and create that container for people to be outside, be in this space,  they’re going to get what they need from it,” Claxton said. 

Her services are much needed as rates of mental health disorders rise across the state. Over 30% of Washingtonians reported anxiety or depression symptoms in 2023, and yet a third of those suffering have not been able to receive appropriate mental health treatment, according to a survey completed by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

April Claxton, a certified mindfulness guide stands in Fairhaven Park, Jan 26, 2024. Through guided forest bathing, Claxton helps participants absorb the therapeutic effects of nature through sound, texture and scent. //Photo by Nathan Barber

Mental health issues are not exclusive to Washington residents. During the global pandemic in 2020, 40% of adults in the United States reported struggling with their mental health or substance abuse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Despite the apparent mental health crisis plaguing the country, resources remain expensive and inaccessible to many, particularly uninsured people and people of color. Consequently, those in need of mental health care are exploring the benefits of the alternative approach that Claxton practices.

Ecotherapy has been shown to alleviate a variety of mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression and substance use disorders. Nature immersion has also been linked to increased well-being and vitality, according to a Stanford University study. 

“Within a very short period of time, people’s moods and biochemistry shift being in nature, when they’re just being quiet,” Chris Brewer, a professor at Western Washington University’s Fairhaven College, said. “Nature is really rejuvenating.”

Though the development of ecotherapy is fairly new, theories regarding the innate human connection to nature are not. In 1984, American biologist E.O. Wilson suggested that the human relationship with nature is a crucial asset for us to function. He called it the biophilia hypothesis. 

Today, evidence continues to show that nature nourishes the mind. Over the past several years, ecotherapy has gained traction in Whatcom county. Some medical providers in Bellingham are beginning to swap out pills for parks. A local Parkscriptions program even gives doctors the ability to write patients a prescription for time outdoors in local parks.

Despite evidence showing nature’s positive effects on mental health, barriers limit access for many. 

“Research has identified the absence and gaps of natural areas, green spaces and parks in communities of more socioeconomic diversity,” Kathleen Wolf, a social scientist researcher from the University of Washington, said.

City residents have a 40% higher risk of developing depression compared to those living in rural areas, according to The Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health. Those living in urban areas may have a lack of access to green space or parks. However, there is a recent push for development of government policy that increases outdoor accessibility and implements green spaces into urban planning. 

“Now, because of the research on physical health, mental health and social cohesion, cities are recognizing that having nearby nature is an important function,” Wolf said.

Claxton, the founder of Among the Trees PNW, suggests that those currently facing accessibility barriers should practice eco-therapeutic mindfulness with household plants or in an area with natural elements. 

“If you have a little bit of a yard where you can stick your fingers in the dirt, spend some time sitting still listening to what’s happening, smelling a plant or two or rocks or sticks,” Claxton said. “That practice of getting out of our heads and using our senses, to me, that’s the foundation of it.” 

Claxton dips her hand in Padden Creek on the late afternoon of Jan 26, 2024. Guided walks pertain to the senses. The sounds, scents and feelings of nature seem to have a calming effect. //Photo by Nathan Barber

Another barrier preventing access to nature is a lack of motivation. Lindsay Poynter, a senior recreation instructor at Western, assisted in establishing a mentorship program that intertwines counseling services with the outdoor community. The Outdoor Wellness Program was established in 2021 after mental health issues on campus began to skyrocket.

“The counseling center on campus was pretty overwhelmed. Students were struggling more than I’d ever seen them,” Poynter said. 

Western’s Outdoor Wellness Program pairs students in need of mental health support with a one-on-one student mentor. The program is available to all students at no cost, making it an accessible mental health resource on campus. Lindsay recognizes that some students may struggle with motivation to get outdoors and that encouragement from a mentor can be a beneficial tool. 

“So often, we need someone to say, ‘Hey, come outside. Let’s go for a walk’. If you’re struggling with self motivation, that is really hard to do on your own,” Poynter said. 

Casey Coad, a student studying holistic wellbeing at Western’s Fairhaven College, has been a part of the Outdoor Wellness Program for two years. During her two quarters as a mentor, Coad used a variety of eco-therapeutic techniques with her mentees, including forest bathing, mindfulness practices and outdoor artwork. 

“It transcends that individual human experience, and it helps me connect. When I see all these diverse little living creatures, crawling all over each other, growing on top of each other, just living, existing in their own way, it makes me feel like I’m a part of something,” Coad said. “I’m a better student when I take the time to get outside, and I’m a better person too”.

Sydney Poulin is currently pursuing a degree in environmental science at Western. She enjoys writing, and uses it as a tool to discuss environmental issues.

Nathan Barber is a third year visual journalism student at Western. He gets inspired by wildlife restoration and wants to share that inspiration with others.