Areas with lower bird diversity ‘have more mental health hospital admissions’
Areas with lower bird diversity appear to have a higher number of hospital admissions related to mental health conditions, research suggests. Experts analysed data from ebird – an online database of bird observations by citizen scientists – to estimate diversity across the US state of Michigan. The team then combined this with hospital admissions for anxiety and mood disorders in the state. The findings, published in the journal Geo: Geography And Environment, showed lower bird diversity to be a significant predictor of higher numbers of hospital admissions for mental health conditions, highlighting the complex relationship between the disorders and biodiversity crises. It is critical we take a holistic approach to our mental health and nature Dr Rachel Buxton The researchers said that while income and the presence of green spaces were the strongest predictors of anxiety and mood disorder-related admissions, there were also independent “significant associations” between mental health and bird diversity. Lead author Dr Rachel Buxton, assistant professor at the Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences at Carleton University in Canada, said: “Often we consider nature as representing the amount of green space near homes or the distance to the nearest park, but the link between species diversity and health is underexplored. “Our study shows that if species diversity can affect mental health at the severe end of the spectrum (hospitalisations), it is possible that the decline in biodiversity across the globe may be intricately connected with our anxiety and mood on a day-to-day basis. “It is critical we take a holistic approach to our mental health and nature. “Investing in nature should not be viewed as a luxury, but a necessity, and evaluated in the context of the support for wellbeing it offers individuals and communities living in urban or nature-scarce environments. “Restoring and conserving diverse bird communities could be one avenue to improving mental health in cities and factored into urban restoration projects and public health policies.” Last year, researchers from King’s College London found that watching birds or listening to birdsong was linked to mental wellbeing, with effects lasting up to eight hours. The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) team said at that time that the links between birds and mental wellbeing were not explained by co-occurring environmental factors such as the presence of trees, plants or waterways.
1970-01-01 08:00
Italy’s Windfall Profits Tax on Banks Spooks Markets
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1970-01-01 08:00
Citi’s Montagu Says US Stocks Can Rise as Positioning Risk Drops
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Italian Stocks Lead Losses in Europe After Windfall Tax on Banks
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Identity of 'not real' plane rant woman finally named as Tiffany Gomas
The identity of the woman behind the ‘not real’ plane rant that delayed a flight for hours has been officially revealed. The bizarre incident unfolded on 2 July when a female passenger onboard an American Airlines flight was filmed freaking out over another passenger that was seated close to her. In the subsequent viral video, the woman, who had left her seat and walked towards the front of the plane, turned back and pointed to the passenger, shouting, “that mother f**ker back there is not real”. An investigation among people online began as they tried to confirm the identity of the woman, with two names flying around. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Now, it has been revealed that one of the names was correct, as the woman has been identified as Tiffany Gomas, a marketing executive from Texas. It is believed the incident started when Gomas had an argument with relatives she was travelling with over accusations they stole her AirPods headphones. According to The New York Post, which viewed documents linked to the incident, the 38-year-old refused to leave the plane despite suggesting in her rant that she wanted to get off. “The female then started claiming the aircraft was not safe and did not want the aircraft to leave due to her believing it would not make it to its destination,” the 2 July complaint read. “Due to the statements the flight attendants felt the aircraft needed to be rescreened. [The airline manager] explained that the passenger was denied boarding and they wanted her escorted to the public side.” All of the passengers on the plane were forced to get off the aircraft and be rescreened through security. The plane also underwent another screen. Gomas attempted to reboard the plane but was issued with a “verbal criminal trespass notice” and was escorted away to the public side of the airport. Despite this, she tried multiple times to come back through security to reach the boarding area. Police eventually located Gomas waiting for an Uber outside the terminal. She refused to sign a criminal trespass notice, refused to show police her ID and was never formally arrested. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Teenage cousin of Uvalde school shooter is arrested, accused of threatening to 'do the same thing' to a school
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Analysis-Oil hedge funds place their bets on heat-fueled hurricane season
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Is Pokimane starting her own podcast? Twitch queen plans to give tough competition to 'JRE' host Joe Rogan
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Tristan Tate compares ‘unsafe’ US cities to Middle East, discusses 'morality' with Tucker Carlson: ‘Hope somebody can make America great again’
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The Sherlocks feel like 'the Tyson Fury of the music industry'
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David Ayer: James Gunn told me my Suicide Squad cut will have its time to be shared
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1970-01-01 08:00
Logan Paul aims to become a successful heel in WWE like Dominik Mysterio: ‘I think it actually might be real hatred’
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