Chansky: Nature deficit disorder

Wilderness areas are critical to our mental and physical wellbeing. Despite their importance, they are being increasingly compromised. These losses have significant effects on our health. As a family physician, I encounter patients suffering from what is known as “nature deficit disorder.” This term, coined in 2005, describes the symptoms that occur when people are alienated from nature and no longer enjoy the health benefits of spending time outdoors.

Access to undeveloped regions encourages people to exercise, through activities such as hiking and biking, which directly improve health. Spending time in the wild also enables people to breathe fresh air, relax and peacefully enjoy their surroundings. These benefits diminish when access to the wilderness is lost. Nature deficit disorder leads to decreased physical activity and contributes to diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Mental health conditions associated with nature deficit disorder include depression and anxiety.

Recently, there have been a number of threats to our public lands. The “Roadless Rule” — a long-standing federal regulation that protects tens of millions of acres of national forests — is at risk of being repealed. At least 20% of our national parks are significantly understaffed. Recent reports from the U.S. National Parks Service show that $323 million has been routed away from parks such as Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon into other non-essential projects. In fact, there are plans to sell part of Yosemite to a private developer who wants access for his investors to prime real estate within our National Park. 

Right now, we have valuable opportunities to protect some of our most treasured natural sites. Each piece of wilderness that we preserve translates into better health for ourselves and our children and grandchildren. Please email or call your members of Congress, to ask them to protect the “Roadless Rule,” limit misappropriations of funds intended to maintain federal lands and prevent sale or trade of lands included in our public reserves. And please vote!

Maria Yvonne Chansky, MD

Glenwood Springs