What is 'blue therapy,' a nature-based approach to boosting mental health?

FOR our physical and mental well-being, a recent study suggests that we should be in contact with nature for about two hours each week. While the benefits offered by spending time in green spaces, more easily accessible in urban areas, have long been established, time spent near blue spaces may actually boost health more efficiently.

The gentle movement of water lapping, the sound of the waves, the salty air... Spending time in a natural environment featuring a body of water has many benefits for our health and well-being. And this practice even has a name: "blue therapy."

Physical benefits

The benefits of being near water kick in quickly upon contemplation of the landscape. In some cultures, for instance at the time of artist Vincent Van Gogh in France, blue was associated with mourning. Today, in color therapy, blue is the color of calm and soothing.

At the seaside, the air we breathe is charged with negative ions. These molecules are believed to have a positive effect on serotonin levels and thus improve our mood. Moreover, the air is often purer, thanks to the presence of microalgae.

Simply the sounds of nature, such as the sound of flowing water, lowers stress, according to a study published in 2021. In addition, walking along a pond improves well-being and mood, and effects can be noticed right after the walk in contrast to walking in an urban setting or simply resting, a study published in 2020 noted.

Inequality of access to blue spaces

In fact, people who live near a major body of water (within a kilometer) are often in better physical and mental health, outline researchers working on the Blue Health Project, a study on the health benefits of environments near water.

According to the New Scientist publication, the team found that compared to green spaces like forests and parks, water bodies had more of an impact on physical and mental well-being.

Living in an area close to a lake or by the sea also enables access to facilities for physical activities and creates social ties.

While currently these areas tend to be inhabited by more affluent people, the experts want to "improve access to high-quality blue space for deprived communities, while minimizing risks, thus reducing health and environmental inequities."

For those who don't have the time or the means to go to the seaside, watching a film or a documentary about the marine environment could have a kind of placebo effect.