'98% of trail users access the trail to improve their mental health and to relieve stress'
Most people know about the mental and physical health benefits of spending time outside walking.
But economically speaking, when people take to the trail for a nature walk, the dollar benefits might surprise some.
“We quantified $62.6 million in estimated annual mental health care savings for people on the trail. I think employers who are thinking about the economy and numbers would find that interesting,” says Meghan Reddick, vice-president and chief communications and marketing officer at Trans Canada Trail (TCT) in Toronto.
As well, the overall benefits are good for Canada, according to Reddick as there is an estimated $1.7 billion annual health care savings from trail users, according to a recent impact study conducted by TCT.
‘Most depressing time of year’
For employers, these health savings should be enough of a reason to encourage more employees to plan time outside while at work.
“It is the most depressing time of year for so many people and so we are launching a campaign to encourage people to get outside, to get active, and to reap all the mental physical health benefits that the Trans Canada Trail has to offer,” says Reddick.
The organization represents 28,000 kilometres of trail throughout the country, meaning it shouldn’t be too difficult for most Canadians to access, according to Reddick.
It is funded by the federal government through Parks Canada and the organization also invests in trail infrastructure and maintenance.
“We’re quantifying and promoting a variety of benefits that the trail offers. So the fact is that improves physical health: 2.6 million Canadians in Canada use it for activity and so being active lowers blood pressure, improves sleep, and it alleviates depression and lowers risk of cancer [and] heart disease you name it.”
The new campaign is called ‘Blahs to Ahhhs’ and was recently launched to encourage people to hit the trails, for a wide variety of advantages.
“We know that 98% of trail users actually access the trail to improve their mental health and to relieve stress so we’re talking a lot about how it improves your mood and reduces feelings of stress and anxiety, and when you get outside, the fresh air can raise oxygen levels in your brain and that increases your serotonin,” says Reddick.
More than 80% of people in Canada live within 30 minutes of the Trail, which runs through 15,000 communities, says Reddick.
A recent study showed the dire state many employees are living today as more than half of workers surveyed are feeling negative vibes about their workplace.
Ditch the boardroom for mental health
For organizations looking to improve the health of the workforce, get-togethers might be best done away from the traditional standby of the boardroom but instead by doing a “walk-and-talk” meeting, she says.
“If people think about the trail as a location for a collaborative, creative walk-and-talk meeting, I’ve done that a few times myself. I’ve held business meetings, instead of meeting at a coffee shop, or trying to find remote workspace. Just meeting somebody at an access point and walking for half an hour really clears your mind and makes you reset your thinking.”
“It’s good for your creative juices and resets your way of looking at something so if you’re trying to problem solve, or be creative, doing a walk-and-talk out on the trail is really helpful,” says Reddick.
Cost-effective benefit for wellbeing
While many businesses offer such things as paying for gym memberships, having a campaign that encourages trail walking can be more cost effective, she says.
“So many employers give free gym memberships or discounts or what have you but this is a free space: it’s affordable, so many amazing winter activities are free. So employers should promote physical wellbeing without requiring an expensive gym membership or ski hill passes and that’s when you can encourage 30 minutes outside even for a brisk walk. It’s a low-cost opportunity for exercise.”
For employees looking to take a break from staring at a computer screen all day, the trails system offers a therapeutic option.
“I like to say: ‘Stop scrolling and start strolling.’ You’ve been staring at screens for so long. It’s terrible for you nowadays so if you can designate specific times in your day for a digital detox to get outside on the trail without looking at your phone, and disconnecting for a moment, you’ll find you can be so much more productive when you come back to work,” says Reddick
