(Article Source: http://www.treehugger.com)

“Researchers say natural features in overcrowded environments help to make people feel more connected.

Despite their outward invitations of endless social potential and activities, densely packed urban environments often come with the hidden (and harmful) phenomenon of increased loneliness. 

According to Dr. Vivek Murthy, former United States Surgeon General under President Obama, the global “loneliness epidemic” is an overlooked consequence of urban living that carries serious lifespan reduction risks.

“​​Look even deeper, and you’ll find loneliness is associated with a greater risk of heart disease, depression, anxiety, and dementia,” he told the Washington Post in 2017. “And if you look at the workplace, you’ll also find it’s associated with reductions in task performance. It limits creativity. It impairs other aspects of executive function, such as decision-making.”

While there are many ways to counter loneliness, such as redesigning urban architecture to help facilitate social interactions or making it easier for people to own pets, a new study also recommends adding nature into the mix.” 

To read more about this study, please click HERE