Hiking in Nature for Those With Bipolar Disorder

Throughout recorded human history, there has been the convic-tion that connecting with the natural world improves wellbeing. Even with this knowledge, we are becoming more detached from nature both physically and psychologically. Although the psychological positive ef-fect of being in nature is clearly seen in research, the concept of hiking in natural settings for those with bipolar disorder (BD) is not distinctly observed in the literature. It is a common notion that the main reason people hike is to immerse themselves in nature. For those with BD, the benefits of the leisure experience of hiking in nature offer a chance to escape the chaos of life’s challenges that one may face with having an often-debilitating mental illness. Other benefits of this leisure ex-perience include physical activity, which provides opportunities for self-efficacy development, practicing mindfulness, experiencing “awe” on occasion, and strengthening resilience. The goal of this paper is to better understand the impact of hiking in nature for those with the mental challenges of BD.