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THE founder of Greening Kuwadzana Project, Tafadzwa Gwini, has called for increased tree planting to combat mental health problems caused by urban pollution.
Gwini warned that elements such as noise, exhaust smoke and high temperatures can lead to mental fatigue and lower serotonin levels in the body, which can result in anxiety, stress and depression.
He urged residents to plant more trees, which can help to block noise, regulate temperature and absorb pollutants.
Gwini also claimed that exposure to trees increases serotonin levels and boosts amygdala integrity.
The latter is responsible for controlling emotions and motivation.
“I encourage people to keep on planting trees in the environments they live to promote their mental health.
“Urban pollution such as noise, dust, exhaust smoke and high temperatures cause mental fatigue and lower serotonin levels in the body.
“Lower serotonin levels in the body cause mental health issues such as anxiety, stress and depression.
“Trees on the other hand do not only block noises, but they help with trapping dust, regulating temperatures and absorbing smoke from the atmosphere and replace them with clean oxygen,” said Gwini
Speaking at an event themed ‘Tree Care Therapy for Mental Health’, Gwini urged people to make it a habit to plant trees.
“Our task is to bring the community together to maintain some trees and even to plant more as our contribution towards alleviating vulnerability to mental health issues,” he said.
Ndinewe Foundation programmes coordinator, Paula Muparutsa, echoed similar sentiments.
“Greening the spaces around us helps in improving our mental health.
“Our goal is to promote good mental health and tree care therapy is very powerful.
“Young people can be destructed from abusing drugs by focusing on tree planting,” she said.
Online Reporter