Water

Blue Mind: The Stress-Relieving Power of Water

July 15, 2020  • Aspen High Seas Initiative & Health, Medicine & Society Program

The world is awash in stress as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic—even those who remain healthy face isolation, unemployment, financial instability, disruption of childcare and school, and any number of affiliated complications, all of which cause cortisol levels to skyrocket. As society learns to adapt to restrictions to protect our physical health, we also need tools help manage our mental health. A growing body of research shows how one of our planet’s unique, most precious, and nearly ubiquitous resources—water—can make us happier, healthier, and better equipped to take on the challenges we face today.

From a paddle downstream to a walk on the beach to a picnic by a pond or even a quiet soak in your tub, time spent near, in, on, or under the water can have real, quantifiable health benefits. Join the Aspen High Seas Initiative and the Health, Medicine, and Society Program for a discussion of the healing power of water in celebration of World Ocean Day.

Panelists:

Dr. Wallace “J” Nichols, PhD., author BLUE MIND
Dr. Nooshin Razani, M.D., Director of the Center for Nature and Health, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland
Dr. Mat White, Environmental Psychologist, University of Exeter Medical School

Welcome from:

• Michael Conathan, Executive Director, Aspen High Seas Initiative, The Aspen Institute
• Ruth Katz, Vice President & Executive Director, Health, Medicine, and Society Program, The Aspen Institute