Abstract
Students are arriving on college campuses with more mental wellness concerns and higher rates of diagnoses than previous years. As universities explore ways to increase the programmatic efforts to address these issues, the role nature plays in regards to the human psyche is often not considered. Although universities offer outdoor education programs, the positive impact of the biosphere is relatively underutilized. In this article the author will (a) present a brief overview of the growing presence of mental illnesses on college campuses, (b) provide an introduction and critique of ecotherapy, and (c) propose the placement of house plants within university residence halls as a more socially just form of ecotherapy to promote the psychological well-being of college students.
Recommended Citation
Matsumura, J. L. (2016). Ecotheraphy as a Tool for Mental Wellness. The Vermont Connection, 37(1). https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/tvc/vol37/iss1/12