GARDENS
Table 1. Summary of known effects on weather and climate on human health.2 Health outcomes Heat stress
Known effects of weather
Deaths from cardiopulmonary disease increase with high and low temperatures Heat-related illness and death increase during heat waves
Air-polution-related mortality and morbidity Weather affects air pollutant concentrations Weather affects distribution, seasonality and production of aeroallergens
Health impacts of weather disasters
Floods, landslides and windstorms cause direct effects (deaths and injuries) and indirect effects (infectious disease, long-term psychological morbidity) Droughts are associated with increased risk of disease and malnutrition
Mosquito-borne diseases, tick-borne diseases Higher temperatures shorten the development time of pathogen in vectors and (e.g. malaria, dengue)
increase potential transmission to humans Vector species have specific climate conditions (temperature, humidity) necessary to be sufficient abundant to maintain transmission
Malnutrition Water-borne/food-borne diseases
Climate change may decrease food supplies (crop yields, fish stocks) or access to food supplies
Survival of important bacterial pathogens is related to temperature Water-borne diseases are most likely to occur in communities with poor water supply and sanitation Increases in drought conditions may affect water availability Extreme rainfall can affect transport of disease organisms into water supply
Not all urban green areas can be
considered healing spaces. They can have healing qualities as long as they include the following four essential parts: l the natural environment l the built environment l the symbolic environment l the social environment.16
These gardens require features and elements to make them functional and accessible for all users. When designing them, qualities such as: location and planning, natural and anthropic elements, and some general considerations must be taken into account: Location and planning: These elements are essential and must be taken into account at the beginning of any landscaping project. Prior to its execution, the designer must decide the best location and orientation of the healing garden components, and establish the function, access and visibility of the green areas. The visibility and accessibility of the healing garden and its component parts must also be considered. Natural and social elements: It is
essential to identify and place trees, bushes, plants and flowers with colours that influence the user’s mood and well- being. The use of colour for therapeutic purposes allows us to influence physical and emotional illnesses. Through colours it is possible to calm, inspire, excite and balance; plant species affect people in different ways, so species must be incorporated correctly to achieve the project objectives. The social context of the project
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includes the cultural and historical characteristics of the human groups that coexist in the place of intervention, and is linked to attitudes, preferences, values, feeling of place and uses of space. It is important that new uses do not contradict current uses, to avoid potential social conflicts. General considerations: The space should be quiet, to help people regain calm. That is why it is considered essential that the healing garden be away from traffic, parking lots, and service exits. It must be a space where anyone feels safe, so it is necessary to be equipped with railings and seats protected from climatic factors.
References 1 Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). 2024. Global Burden of Disease 2021: Findings from the GBD 2021 Study. Seattle, WA: IHME.
2 Sari Kovats R. Cambell-Lendrum D, Matthies F. Climate change and human health: estimating avoidable deaths and disease. Risk Anal 2005; 25 (6): 1409-18.
3 Palinkas LA, Wong M. Global climate change and mental health. Curr Opin Psychol 2020; 32: 12-16.
4 Huizing E. (coord). (n.d). Ambiente terapéutico en Salud Mental. Análisis de situación y recomendaciones para unidades de hospitalización y comunidades terapéuticas en Andalucía. Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Consejería de Salud, Sevilla.
5 Venter S, Hassani A, Stange E, Schneider P, Castell N. Reassessing the role of urban green space in air pollution control. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2024; 121 (6): e2306200121. 6 Yang Y, Zhang Y, Sheng S. Residential
greenness for mitigating impacts of extreme heat events on depression and supporting mental health. Front Public Health 2023; 11: 1310410.
7 Alcock I, White M, Wheeler B, Fleming L, Depledge M. Longitudinal effects on mental health of moving to greener and less green urban areas. Environ Sci Technol 2014; 48 (2): 1247-55.
8 Ulrich R. Visual landscapes and psychological wellbeing. Landsc Res 1979; 4 (1): 17-23.
9 Certomà C, Tornaghi C. Politics and the contested terrain of urban gardening in the neoliberal city. Tornaghi C, Certomà C. eds. 2019. Urban Gardening as Politics. Routledge, London.
IFHE
10 World Health Organization (WHO) (2021). Green and blue spaces and mental health. new evidence and perspectives for action. Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe.
11 Roe JJ, Thompson CW, Aspinall PA et al. Green space and stress: evidence from cortisol measures in deprived urban communities. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2013; 10 (9): 4086-103.
12 Shram-Bijkerk D, Otte P, Dirven L, Breure AM. Indicators to support healthy urban gardening in urban management. Sci Total Environ 2018; 621: 863-71.
13 Hebert B. Design Guidelines for a Therapeutic Garden for Autistic Children. Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College 2003.
14 Diehl E. Do all gardens heal the same? City Green 2017, 14: 68-76
15 Soga M, Gaston K. Extinction of experience: the loss of human-nature interactions. Front Ecol Environ 2016; 14: 94-101.
16 Dushkova D, Ignatieva M. (2020). Geography, environment, sustainability. 13 (1): 159-71.
IFHE DIGEST 2025
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