Nature deficit disorder
Where did the term 'nature deficit' come from?
The term 'nature deficit disorder' was coined by American author and journalist Richard Louv in his book 'Last Child in the Woods-Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder,'
'Nature-deficit disorder is not a formal diagnosis, but a way to describe the psychological, physical and cognitive costs of human alienation from nature, particularly for children in their vulnerable developing years'. Richard Louv
Children need nature in their lives.
Children's immune systems and their body's ability to develop both physically and psychologically need; open, natural spaces which challenge them and offer them growth and a sense of belonging, community and safety.
We live in a society that is too quick to label, diagnose and medicate children rather than seek to explore other alternative ways of exploring their behaviours, mental health and facilitating an environment that promotes their well-being.
The recent statistics show an incredibly sad reality. That medicating children has become the norm.
In the US; a 2003 study published in the Psychiatric Journal found that prescriptions of antidepressants to pre-school children has increased by 66% with Prozac being given the go ahead since 2001.
These heart-breaking figures show that for the first time in history the prescribing of anti-psychotic and anti-depressant medications have surpassed the prescribing of asthma and anti-biotic medications to children.
Then there's the lack of services and dwindling 'green spaces' being made freely available to children; which is resulting in more and more children spending a majority of their time indoors; and now connected to a world that exists online.
American Clinical Psychologist Craig Brod also termed the phrase 'technostress' explaining that with the introduction of computer technology and our ever increasing reliance on technology, and more recently social media; as a species, we are living in a constant state of stress and moving further away from nature to the point where our children aren't able to access outdoor spaces at all.
However there is an ever growing body of research coming through now; where a growing movement of child therapeutic practitioners; whether they be paediatricians, psychologists, schools, nurseries, psychologists, counsellor and therapists; are all now implementing nature therapy based practice into their therapeutic approaches with children and young people and as a result they are getting outstanding results for children health and well-being.
