Castle Craig is located on 50 beautiful acres of the rolling hills pronounced by the Scottish Borders. Our serene location is remote, submerging our patients in the natural surroundings of a lush and mystical green surrounding. For over 25 years, our location has helped over 10,000 patients find the rehabilitation they need from drug and alcohol addiction. Outdoor activities, outdoor therapy, and just being in the stunning scenery of Castle Craig is healing for mental, physical, and spiritual health.
When people come to Castle Craig they come from all over the world in many different types of environments. For some, being around vast green space is a new experience. Spending time in green space is a new practice for some but an ancient practice for others. In Japan, for example, “forest bathing” is a prescribed part of their national health care system with hundreds of miles of walking and hiking trails mandated by the government as a national plan for health. Much research has been lent to exploring the effect of being in a green environment to health. According to one study conducted in 2014, people who move from cities to green areas, even just urban areas with more green space, “felt immediate improvement in their mental health”. The study reports that those mental health benefits lasted for three year or more.
Depression, anxiety, stress, and other factors which contribute to poor mental health are improved by green spaces. Some research have indicated people have a greater sense of connection to the world around them, are more encouraged to act in an environmentally-friendly manner, and see improvement in their body image and self-image. Green environments promote oxygen production and give off healthy exchange of toxins which help clear the lungs.
Making a drastic move from the city to the countryside is not necessary for gaining the reward of green space benefits. Research has found that being able to see green from a window in the house, such as trees, bushes, or a small patch of grass, can greatly reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing.
For information on the residential treatment programs at Castle Craig for addiction, alcoholism, and associated mental health issues, call our 24 hour free confidential phone-line: 01721 546 263. From outside the UK please call: +44 808 271 7500 (normal charges apply).
