We'll prescribe a garden that will soothe your soul... Seoul City to launch a pilot program next month.

We'll prescribe a garden that will soothe your soul... Seoul City to launch a pilot program next month.

Jo Hyun-ah's story

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 28th that it will begin piloting the "Seoul Garden Prescription" project next month, utilizing gardens and forests throughout Seoul to promote the mental health of its citizens.

The Seoul Garden Prescription is a program that supports citizens to improve their physical and mental health through various experiential activities in gardens.

 

Healing through gardens has been shown to reduce depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness, and improve daily vitality, life satisfaction, and mental health. Research has shown that viewing a garden reduces anxiety levels by 20% and negative moods by 11% compared to viewing an urban landscape.

Prescriptions utilizing natural environments are being implemented in many countries, including Germany, the UK, and New Zealand. Germany offers natural prescriptions linked to resorts. When a medical professional writes a recommendation for natural prescriptions, the patient can travel to the resort and receive treatment through natural prescriptions from local medical professionals. This type of natural prescription is estimated to save approximately 4 trillion won annually in medical costs.

 

The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Garden Prescription pilot program is being conducted in collaboration with the Dementia Care Center, Seoul Metropolitan Youth Center, and Youth Growth Center. Each organization will recruit 351 individuals eligible for the program and provide free, customized garden prescription programs at locations such as the Forest Healing Center, Seoul Botanical Garden, Healing Forest, and Seoul Trail.

 

The "Dementia Care Program" for seniors with early-stage dementia is offered at Seoul Grand Park Forest Healing Center, Yongsan Family Park, and Bulamsan Mountain Forest Healing Center. This program promotes mental and physical health by allowing participants to experience healing factors derived from nature, such as phytoncides and negative ions, and by engaging in walking and relaxation activities to enhance immunity and memory.

 

Walking and gardening programs are also available for psychologically vulnerable young people experiencing severe depression and stress. At Seoul Forest, Boramae Park, and Seoul Botanical Garden, participants can participate in "Mind Care Gardens," where they can explore their emotions and find peace through gardening activities, and "Mind Walks in the Gardens," where they can experience meditation and aromatherapy with a forest guide.

Programs will also be offered to help isolated and reclusive youth foster vitality and socialization. At the Bul-am Mountain Forest Healing Center, Gwanaksan Mountain Healing Forest, Seoul Trail, and Seoul Forest, visitors can learn about walking, meditation, and laughter-based healing while connecting with trees. Active programs, such as rock climbing and tree climbing, will also be offered to stimulate all five senses.

 

Customized garden prescriptions are based on the ‘Garden Healing Handbook’. The book contains information necessary for garden healing activities, such as a garden activity workbook and garden prescription record.

Based on the results of this pilot program, the city plans to develop a Seoul-specific garden prescription algorithm to provide personalized gardening advice to all Seoul citizens. The city also plans to expand gardening content within the "Wrist Doctor 9988" app, a Seoul-style healthcare service.

 

Lee Su-yeon, Director of the Seoul Garden City Bureau, said, "Through the Seoul-style garden prescription project, we can expect not only that citizens will be able to lead healthier and happier lives, but also that the government will be able to reduce its burden of medical expenses." She added, "We will create a garden city, Seoul, that is healthy in both body and mind and is attractive."

 

 

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I guess just looking at nature is healing.

Doesn't the name seem pretty? >

Garden prescription

 

Just looking at the flowers blooming in the field makes me feel good.

I heal by looking at gardens.

Just thinking about it makes me interested

 

I think Seoul City is conducting a pilot operation to control dust.