Mental health and wellbeing; Ecotherapy

Humans’ need for nature is linked not just to the material exploitation of the environment but also to the influence of the natural world on our emotional, cognitive, aesthetic, and spiritual development. It has been shown that green areas have a positive impact on human health as a result of both physical activity and use as a site for mental relaxation and stimulation. Ecotherapy is a natural, free and accessible alternative treatment for our mental health. Ecotherapy is one of the ecosystem services provided by nature and is based on ecopsychological theories. In general terms, it is an area of improvement based on the concept of ecology, aiming to be holistic in theory and practice. In the most basic sense, ecotherapy is related to the healing and psychological benefits of being in nature and natural environments. In a modern context, the relationship between nature and the positive effects on mental health goes back to the beginning of the last century. In the scope of this study; parameters and priorities for the identification of "green space" as well as "mental health" to examine how I defined it is important to identify and literature form the basis of it. The green area includes urban areas with lawns, trees or other plantation designated for recreational or aesthetic purposes. These areas are open spaces, including public, parks, public gardens, open public spaces, green roads / paths, green roofs and green corridors. Based on research and literature review; Ecotherapy supports the theoretical benefits derived from human and natural environment interactions. Thus, it seems rather obvious that:  Being in nature affects health (physical and mental) positively.  Based on nature interaction; It is observed that nature-based activities have a positive effect on human health.  It is clear that, this service provided by nature (for example, the presence of therapeutic or developmental services in Nature) is an unforgettable value, if it is unforgettable in the ecological literature, in relation to intermediate and recent ecosystem goods and services in the ecological literature, without direct cost. In this study; The effects of nature on human mental health have been extensively studied. The definition of the concept of ecotherapy, the types of ecotherapy and the possibilities within this scope were evaluated. Based on the data obtained, suggestions have been developed within the scope of ecotherapy as an alternative healing method.