5 Ways That Flowers May Improve Your Mental HealthYvette

Do flowers really have the power to make us happy? 

According to behavioural research from Rutgers University, it would seem so. 

A study was conducted in 2004 by Dr Jeanette Haviland over a ten month period to explore the link between flowers and life satisfaction. Findings showed that flowers were a natural moderator of moods and had strong positive effects on emotional health. This was some of the first scientific evidence that flowers really did promote feelings of happiness and joy––both of which are essential for our psychological health and wellbeing. But while the scientific evidence is now here to back this idea up, this is something that artists, poets, florists and gardeners have instinctively known for centuries.

Mental illness is now one of Australia’s major health issues. According to the most recent report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than two in five Australians had experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life, with one in five disclosing that their mental health disorder had gone on for twelve or more months.

The most worrying statistic of all however, is that of the 4.2 million Australians who were living with an ongoing mental health disorder between 2020-2021, only half sought treatment, meaning that so many others suffered in silence and likely without any support, professional or otherwise.

While many assume that the only strategies involve expensive therapy or are prescription driven, there are actually many creative, hands-on methods that are effective in helping those striving for improved mental health.

One of those I discovered myself when I experienced my first mental health ‘episode’. I was young, an award-winning florist and I had the world at my feet. However, at 24, I hit rock bottom, suffering from severe depression and anxiety before my passion and love for flowers pulled me from my darkest days.

Based on my own experience, I believe flower arranging to be a unique solution that allows people to access the healing property of flowers as a key component of an effective health and wellbeing strategy.

Here are five ways that flowers can be introduced into a weekly routine to help promote better mental health:

1. Buy yourself a bunch from the markets 

Buy yourself a gorgeous, oversized vase and start filling it with different bunches of fresh flowers from the markets each week, letting the heady scents fill your home for days. Dr. Haviland’s research showed that flowers have a long-term, positive effect on moods, with study participants feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated after being exposed to flowers on a regular basis.

2. Plant a flower garden 

Head down to Bunnings or your local nursery and secure yourself some seedlings. Carve out some time each weekend for your new hobby garden, planting and tending to your flowers. Not only will you have a beautiful flower garden, but you’ll also be able to display your flowers in your home.

3. Give flowers more regularly as gifts 

All study participants from Dr. Haviland’s study expressed excitement when receiving flowers. Reactions included surprise, genuine happiness and gratitude, resulting in a deeper and more meaningful relationship between the giver and receiver.

4. DIY Flowers 

If you prefer the self-taught method, join an online class on how to create your own gorgeous floral arrangement and make it a hobby to create a unique arrangement every week. You could even go one step further and create your own Instagram or Pinterest accounts to showcase your creative genius!

5. Do a course in flower arranging 

Find a workshop or short course near you and enrol to learn how to turn those $10 market flowers into a floral masterpiece. Flower arranging has the power to help us enter into a parasympathetic state which moves us from flight or fight into relax and reset, making it a very powerful pick-me-up when you’re feeling down.

The link between flower arranging and mental health is fascinating, so much so that I’ve actually written an entire book about it! If you’re interested in diving further into this topic, check out Feed Your Soul With Flowers.

Yvette x

Feed Your Soul with Flowers