"Doctors Are Now Prescribing Nature" - Outdoor Spaces & Mental Health with Debbie Laporte

About this episode

Dr Jodi Richardson and Debbie Laporte discuss the impact of outdoor spaces on mental health and the concept of nature deficit disorder.

We spend a lot of time on this podcast exploring what's happening on the inside - our thoughts, our nervous system, our stress and worry. But what about the world around us? Today, Dr Jodi Richardson is joined by registered landscape architect and founder of Otara, Debbie Laporte, to explore how the spaces we inhabit - especially outdoor spaces - have a profound impact on our mental health and wellbeing. With over twenty years of experience designing school grounds, nature play areas and community environments across Australia and Europe, Debbie brings a fascinating perspective on why so many of us are struggling...and why the answer might be closer than we think. In this conversation, Jodi and Debbie discuss: Why humans are spending more time indoors than ever before, and what that's costing us mentally and emotionally The concept of nature deficit disorder and the growing movement of doctors prescribing time in nature What nature play actually is (and why it's not just for kids!) The powerful role of choice and risk in play, and what that means for raising resilient children Simple, low-cost ways to improve your outdoor spaces so you actually want to use them Why even five…

People in this episode

Host: Dr Jodi Richardson

Guest: Debbie Laporte

Topics covered

• mental health
• outdoor spaces
• nature deficit disorder
• resilience in children
• impact of environment on wellbeing

Keywords

• mental health
• outdoor spaces
• nature play
• resilience
• nature deficit disorder
• wellbeing
• community environments
• play
• mood reset

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Otara

Places: Australia, Europe

More episodes of Well, hello anxiety with Dr Jodi Richardson

• Connor Scott: From Rock Bottom to Running 50km a Day for Mental Health (Part 1) · June 9, 2026 · 31 min
• The Happiness Myth with Declan Edwards · June 2, 2026 · 47 min
• Success Without Losing Yourself: Fleur Marks on Rest, Presence & Self-Worth (Part 2) · May 26, 2026 · 26 min
• The Overachiever’s Wake-Up Call with Fleur Marks (Part 1) · May 19, 2026 · 30 min
• Gut Health, Anxiety & Brain Fog: The Missing Link, With Ali Tehan · May 5, 2026 · 36 min
• The Hidden Habit Blocking Better Ideas, Connection and Energy: Dara Simkin (Part 2) · April 28, 2026 · 28 min