Nature Is a Powerful Tool for Mental Wellness

Every May, Mental Health Awareness Month invites us to reflect on the many ways we can support emotional well-being. While clinical care, community support, and crisis response remain essential, we also know that healing can begin with something simple: spending time in nature.

This year, DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) and The Morton Arboretum are partnering to highlight the importance of nature-based activities and encourage residents to explore the outdoors in ways that feel comfortable and achievable. Whether it’s stepping outside for a brief walk or spending an afternoon at the Arboretum or another green space in the region, nature can be a meaningful companion on the journey toward better mental health.

This focus on nature-supported wellness is reflected in the design of DCHD’s Crisis Recovery Center (CRC), which opened its doors in September 2025. The CRC provides immediate, walk-in support for youths and adults experiencing a mental health crisis and adults experiencing a substance use crisis, offering a safe and welcoming place to begin recovery. Our team offers a supportive space for intervention, stabilization, guidance, and connection to long-term care. The nature-focused setting in and around the building was intentionally created to help foster calm, reduce stress, and support a sense of grounding for those seeking help.

The CRC is open 24/7. Residents may call (630) 627-1700, or walk in at 115 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton IL, no appointments are needed. To learn more about services at the CRC, visit: www.dupagecrc.org.

Research continues to show that time among trees can reduce stress, boost mood, sharpen attention and support overall wellness. In fact, spending just 20 minutes connecting with nature can help lower stress hormone levels, according to a study in the April 4, 2019, Frontiers in Psychology.

This small, accessible step can create meaningful benefits for people of all ages. Making time in nature more accessible is an important part of this work. Community partnerships, public green spaces, library pass programs, and reduced-cost admission opportunities can help ensure more residents have opportunities to experience the mental and physical health benefits that trees and nature provide.

As part of our collaboration, DCHD and The Morton Arboretum hosted a tree planting at the CRC. This planting of 17 trees represented a meaningful investment in a healthier environment for the community members who seek services at the CRC. Trees planted now will grow to support a sense of calm and a welcoming environment for decades to come.

For those seeking a peaceful place to stroll or additional guidance, The Morton Arboretum offers nature-based wellness programs, including forest therapy walks and online courses exploring the science behind nature and mental well-being.

The Morton Arboretum helps more people experience the benefits of green spaces through financial access programs such as Museums for All, library partnerships, complimentary admission opportunities, nonprofit access memberships and discounted admission for seniors. DuPage County residents also receive a 33% discount on Arboretum general admission tickets on Wednesdays. For more information, visit mortonarb.org.

Nature won’t replace professional mental health care — but it is a powerful, evidence-supported complement. This May, we invite our community to step outside, breathe deeply, and notice the trees around them. Healing doesn’t always require complex tools. Sometimes, it starts with nature.

• Adam Forker is executive director of the DuPage County Health Department. Jill Koski is president and CEO of The Morton Arboretum.