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TRANSCRIPT
If you hear the words forest bathing, it conjures images of swimming in lakes or a bathtub overlooking a treescape.
In practice, it is very different - but the goal is the same; decompression and mindfulness.
All you need to do is take a walk in nature and ignite your sense of smell, sound, touch - and absorb it all.
Shawn Ramsey practices what she calls forest therapy, leading groups into woodland in North Carolina in the US.
"So, forest therapy at its core is really a nature-based mindfulness activity. So, it's actually a lovely way for people to reconnect with nature, to reconnect with aspects of themselves."
Ms Ramsey has taken a group into the Raulston Arboreum - a cityside nature reserve, encouraging them to breathe deep and move slowly.
"I invite you to really spend the next 10 minutes just exploring this area. Really focusing on your breath, on your footsteps. All the natural sounds around you. Maybe the man-made sounds, too. Thinking about the forest's natural rhythm and how are part of that."
This slow-moving, forest meditation was first recorded as a popular practice in Japan in the 1980s.
Called Shinrin Yoku - it emerged as a remedy for corporate stress in Japanese workers.
The same practice has since been used by therapeutic practitioners around the world - and it is timely.
Claire Jeffries has spent two hours in the woods near her home, which she says gives her a protective bubble and shields her from economic pressure and news of war.
"That focus back into spending time in nature and the healing power of that, and just remembering that we're part of something bigger, that we're all connected. And that what we do in our actions that we take really matter to the rest of the world. And so there's no better place to see that than here."
Fellow participant Alan Mintz has been taking time to smell the flowers, touch the grass and appreciate the natural world.
"I think it's important for people to take the opportunity to exist in natural spaces, both to unwind and relax, so that it can be easier to interact with other people. And to take a moment to appreciate beautiful things. That way, hopefully, they can carry that forward and have more of an appreciation for other people and other cultures that they might be less experienced with."
The concept of anxiety over global affairs is not new or confined to one culture and a new survey shows many of us could be experiencing it.
A new report by the Australian National University's National Security College, directed by Dr Tim Wilford, has found two thirds of Australians are worried about the country's preparedness and security in the face of looming crises.
"What's been most surprising is that in November 2024, what we found was the younger cohort of Australians were least worried about national security. And between then and February this year when we did our latest survey wave, that concern has increased dramatically. So, for example the 18 to 24 year-old age group, in November of 2024, 22 per cent of them were worried about national security. And this year, in February 55 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds report being worried about national security- a massive increase."
The study identified 85-89 per cent of respondents are concerned about six issues as major threats to Australia.
The issues impacting anxiety are climate change impacts, AI-enabled attacks, disinformation, foreign interference, economic crisis and critical supply disruption.
With so many global factors beyond individual control, trauma specialists recommend taking action in the face of perceived helplessness.
Dr Susan Rees - professor in psychiatry and mental health from the University of New South Wales, suggests individuals find tangible ways to respond to conflict and atrocities.
"Things like joining or being engaged with humanitarian responses, maybe fundraising, getting people together in groups to share information in a constructive way. Being able to take social action, lawful social action, even attend rallies and things like that where you feel like you're part of a group that really care and that you really feel like you're doing something and that's really empowering and really good for mental health."
