Epi. 310 – Getting Out in Nature for Your Mental Health – Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim

AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Aaron Pospisil to discuss the mental health benefits of spending time in nature. This episode was developed by the AABP Mental Health and Well Being Committee. If you are interested in joining the AABP Mental Health and Well Being Committee, please visit the committee page here.    This episode of Have You Herd? is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and Pyramid® vaccines. When it comes to bovine respiratory disease — BRD — your calves need protection as soon as possible. Because calf health is everything, choose a vaccine as premier as your herd. PYRAMID® vaccines deliver relentless protection against the primary viruses and bacteria that lead to BRD — like BVDV Type 1b, BRSV and Mannheimia haemolytica — even in the face of maternal antibodies. Get Relentless Protection at PyramidVaccines.com.   Pospisil shares his personal story of mental health struggles and burnout that led to suicidal thoughts. He discovered the Buckeye Trail in Ohio and set out a goal of hiking the trail and discovered the benefits to his mental health hiking with his family. We discuss some triggers that veterinarians may experience in practice, how these change over time and the generational differences regarding our veterinary medicine identity and stressors.    Pospisil reviews some of the published research on the benefits to our mental health of experiencing nature which is known as the biophilia hypothesis. There are multiple opportunities for ambulatory veterinarians to pause during the day to experience and appreciate their surroundings and the dose can be as low as 20 minutes per week to see benefits. Sharing favorite hikes and outdoor activities is a great way to collaborate and network as colleagues to support our mental health and well-being.    LINKS:   Aaron Pospisil Photography Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/PospisilPhotography   Jimenez, M.P.; DeVille, N.V.; Elliott, E.G.; Schiff, J.E.; Wilt, G.E.; Hart, J.E.; James, P. Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence. Int. J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18:4790. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094790   Zhang, Z.; Ye, B.; Yang, W.; Gao, Y. Effect of Nature Space on Enhancing Humans’ Health and Well-Being: An Integrative Narrative Review. Forests. 2024;15:100. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010100   Ruirui Zhu, Liyun Yuan, Yanting Pan, Yefan Wang, Danping Xiu, Weiyi Liu. Effects of natural sound exposure on health recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Total Environ. 2024;921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171052.   Gaekwad JS, Sal Moslehian A, Roös PB, Walker A. A Meta-Analysis of Emotional Evidence for the Biophilia Hypothesis and Implications for Biophilic Design. Front Psychol. 2022;13:750245. PMID: 35693493; PMCID: PMC9186521.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.750245   The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative by Florence Williams: https://florencewilliams.com/the-nature-fix/