STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Urban adults living 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) or less from the coast had better mental health than those living more than 50 kilometers (31 miles) away
- When household income was factored in, the study showed that for the lowest income respondents there was a 40% lower risk of poor mental health for those living within 0.6 miles of the coast compared to those living 31 miles away
- Even among those living between 0.6 miles and 3.1 miles from the coast, there was a 25% lower risk of poor mental health compared to those living farther away
- In Europe, the BlueHealth project is looking into how inland waterways and coasts affect health promotion and disease
- Canadian research also revealed that living near water reduced the risk of premature death by 12% to 17% among urban residents, particularly for deaths related to stroke or respiratory-related causes
