A New Bill Could Provide Better Outdoor Recreation Programs for Veterans

Written by

Jenni Gritters · REI · November 10, 2020

Featuring Gregory Bratman, member of the Center’s Research Collaborative

Time in nature has been shown to help people of varying backgrounds with mental health issues by reducing depression and anxiety and increasing overall happiness. For veterans, in particular, time outside appears to decrease symptoms of PTSD and may help former service members reintegrate into civilian life. At the University of Washington, an ongoing study, which started in 2018 with support from REI, aims to test the benefits of wilderness hiking as a treatment for PTSD among veterans. Lead researcher Greg Bratman is currently looking at the effects of nature on veterans’ mental and physical health in urban settings (like walks in city centers) compared with more rural settings, like mountainscapes. In Austin, Texas, researcher David Scheinfeld is doing similar work, focusing on how veterans respond to Outward Bound programs. Early results suggest the programs may improve interpersonal relations, boost resilience and improve a sense of purpose among veterans.

Are Green Spaces in Cities as Good for Us as Green Spaces in Mountains?

Written by

Jenni Gritters · REI · August 30, 2019

Featuring Gregory Bratman and Kathleen Wolf, members of the Center’s Research Collaborative

One of the biggest puzzles in social science right now involves trying to figure out what kinds of outdoors spaces are best for certain kinds of people. While scientists know that being outside has some benefits for some people, they’re trying to learn more about how and why we’re impacted. In my case, was that city park as positively impactful on my mental health as the alpine lake? And would someone with less anxiety but more depressive tendencies than me respond in the same way to those environments? University of Washington (UW) social scientist Kathleen Wolf and her colleague, Greg Bratman, an assistant professor at the UW College of the Environment, are searching for the answers to those very questions.