In the Public Eye — Fall 2026

Studies Reveal Positive Impacts of Spending Time Outdoors

For many of us, spending time indoors is the default. “Indoors, we may be isolated, spend more time on social media, or zone out on screens,” says NASW-Utah member Joanna Bettmann Schaefer, LCSW, a mediator, professor of social work, and adjunct instructor of psychiatry at the University of Utah. She authored an article at uofuhealth.utah.edu about the benefits of spending time outdoors.

“Over the last four years, my research team, the university librarians, and I systematically reviewed thousands of studies to identify the direct positive impacts of time spent outside,” she wrote. “We were curious about specific benefits, but also whether or not factors like duration, frequency, or outdoor setting mattered for individuals seeking to improve their mental health by going outside.”

What they found was surprising. “Our research showed that as few as 10 minutes of outdoor exposure improved mental health symptoms in thousands of adult participants regardless of age or gender,” Schaefer said.

“I believe developing green spaces on campus and incentivizing programming within these green spaces should be a key priority for University of Utah leaders,” she stated. “We can do this by thinking about our outdoor spaces as critically important environments for campus mental health. We also can work to remove existing barriers to natural and green spaces for our students and employees.”

“I believe that we should also work to improve nature access for all of our Utah populations. We can use tools such as ParkServe (tpl.org), an interactive topographical map hosted by the Trust for Public Lands. ParkServe shows us how some urban populations in northern Utah have greater access to natural spaces than others.”at the PACE event.

Janelle Stauffer

NASW-Idaho

“Kids are struggling, for sure, and so I’m going to say they are not OK right now,” says NASW member Janelle Stauffer of Idaho. Stauffer, a therapist and social worker with the Resiliency Center, was quoted at idahoednews.org as a panelist for a discussion on ways to help at-risk youth in the state. She is especially worried about youth who experience discrimination. She noted LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide, and youth of color are accessing health care at a lower rate than everyone else. “Part of the reason is representation,” Stauffer said in the story. “It’s hard to find a provider that looks like them or shares their cultural values.”

Lauren Jessell

NASW-New York

NASW-New York member Lauren Jessell was quoted in Time magazine about ways to support someone who is grieving. Jessell, PhD, LCSW, is the founder of ParityWell, a mental health practice dedicated to supporting late-identified adults with neurodevelopmental differences. She points out that people often resent being told how strong they are because it discounts how out of control they actually feel. Instead of labeling someone’s experience for them, try reflecting back what they’re actually telling you so they feel heard, Jessell suggested. Ask what kind of support would be most helpful–sometimes people want practical help, and sometimes they just want a friend to listen. “Really just asking can be useful,” she says.

Katherine Supiano

NASW-Texas

NASW member Katherine Supiano of Texas was quoted in an article at hospicenews.com about a new educational program to help hospice providers better address their patients’ unmet needs. The training includes guidance for providers to navigate situations such as a live hospice discharge, family caregiver burnout and bereavement. Supiano, LCSW, is professor emeritus at the University of Utah’s College of Nursing. “[The training] helps them tailor care, but more importantly, their listening conveys respect that will certainly prove essential to build the relationship when the professional has to share bad news or report a problem,” Supiano said.

Heather Washburn

NASW-Maine

EAP counselor Heather Washburn, LCSW, of Maine, offered guidance and tips to reduce stress during a segment featured on WABI TV for Stress Awareness Month. Normal stress is expected. “Some stress is good for us,” Washburn said. “It helps us to stay focused and motivated. It helps us show up and be our best (and) to prepare for the demands that come up in our day-to-day lives. So, not all stress is bad.” However, people are engineered to experience stress only for a few minutes or hours, not weeks or months, she pointed out. Take time to think about your stress, she suggested. Examining the causes is an important first step, and can then take you to a place of action.

Melisa Tasker

NASW-Michigan

NASW member Melisa Tasker, of Michigan, was quoted in an article at concentratemedia.com about Washtenaw County’s Mobile Crisis Team (MCT), which provides rapid response and follow-up for mental health concerns. “The state of Michigan has mandated that every (Community Mental Health Team) have some level of crisis response, some kind of mobile crisis team,” says Tasker, a program administrator with Washtenaw County Community Mental Health. “It’s really an acknowledgment that crisis response is an evidence-based practice that communities want and need.” She says the MCT handles about 8,000 calls monthly, up from 4,000 in 2019. The Co-Response Unit has been especially instrumental in reducing arrests and hospitalizations. Currently, 30% of calls to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office are being connected to Tasker’s teams.