Almost one in six people in the UK will suffer from mental ill-health, such as anxiety or depression, in their lifetime. i Mental ill-health can cause, and be caused by, health and social inequalities. It accounts for almost 20% of the burden of disease in Europe. ii Poor mental health also costs the economy an estimated £ billion a year, because of the thousands of people unable to work due to their mental illness. iii Safe, green spaces may be as effective as prescription drugs in treating some forms of mental illnesses, without the costs of side-effects and ever-rising numbers of prescriptions. Making the connection between health and green space is hardly new thinking though
