Outdoor Leadership Activities Such As Scouts Decreases The Risk Of Mental Health Problems Among Children

Children who participate in outdoor and leadership activities are said to have positive progress in terms of their mental health. Health care experts explain that children who are participating in organizations and summer camps have better mental health performance compared to their peers.

Mental health concerns among young children and big kids are a bit tricky to detect. Letting children participate in social activities can significantly increase their mental health status by the time they'd reach adulthood. Activities such as joining scouts or guides can decrease their chances of having mental health illnesses.

Independent reports that outdoor activities impact children on all backgrounds. The study is done in the U.K. since 1958 focused on 10,000 people.

The lifelong study was commonly known as the National Child Development. The scientists studied the data that came up with the results where it was highlighted that participants who joined scouts and guides are less likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and other mental health disorders by 15 percent compared to their peers.

"It is quite startling that this benefit is found in people so many years after they have attended Guides or Scouts," Lead researcher Professor Chris Dibben, of the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences stated. "We expect the same principles would apply to the Scouts and Guides of today and so, given the high costs of mental ill health to individuals and society, a focus on voluntary youth programs such as the Guides and Scouts might be very sensible."

The research results pave the way into coming up with an effective program that can boost a child's mental health and decrease the risks of depression and anxiety at a later age. The research also revealed that joining scouts, guides and other outdoor activities positively impact the child's overall help as they grow up to be resilient and proactive.