How travelling can benefit mental health

Disclaimer: we are not medical professionals, and this post is informational only. If you are experiencing mental health problems, you should seek professional medical support.

Whether diagnosed or not, millions of people experience mental health issues which require treatment or intervention. In the UK alone, it is estimated that 60% of adults experience anxiety regularly, with the condition interfering with their daily lives. More shockingly, it’s estimated that 1 in 5 people in the UK experience suicidal thoughts during their lifetime, with 1 in 15 attempting suicide.

Many factors can contribute towards the growing mental health issues and general angst. Here are some of the leading factors of poor mental health:

Neurological disorders: Many people may be suffering from neurological disorders which remain undiagnosed. Whether someone has inherited a mental condition from their parents or they are suffering from a substance addiction, there are many illnesses which can deteriorate someone’s mental health.
Social and economic issues: Socioeconomic issues such as financial insecurity, housing insecurity, unemployment, or poor relationships can have severe mental health detriments. Being constantly exposed to high levels of stress can be catastrophic for someone’s physical and mental health, leading to a much lower quality of life.
Trauma: Some people may be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental health condition in which a terrifying or debilitating event (e.g. abuse, murder, war) leaves people unable to resume normal lives following the event. Common symptoms of PTSD include anxiety, depression, erratic behaviour, suicidal thoughts, and more.

The Mental Health Benefits of Travelling

One of the ways we can combat mental health issues – in addition to clinical treatment – is by travelling. While seeking professional and licensed support is essential, we also need to adopt a holistic approach towards mental health treatment.

Holistic therapy is defined by treatment which does not only treat a single symptom, but it intends to improve the physical, mental, and spiritual health of someone. Travelling can induce many benefits akin to holistic therapy and optimise someone’s general wellbeing in many different ways.

Here’s how travelling can offer a range of benefits to our mental health.

Red poppies in the foreground with a cliff and building in the background

Reduction in Stress and Anxiety

One of the most obvious and apparent benefits of travelling is the reduction in stress and anxiety. When people take time from work, the most common thing they do is travel. Experiencing an exciting change from your current routine and environment can be very stimulating, especially if it includes visiting new countries. This is particularly the case if you are suffering from a toxic environment, or work-related stress.

In a society where companies put emphasis on long hours in the workplace, it’s natural that people will suffer from poor mental health conditions. Burnout, defined as a depletion of physical and emotional health for an extended period of time, is rife among workers in western countries. Some studies suggest that around 63% of workers in the UK exhibit signs of burnout.

Studies suggest that workers who don’t go on holiday end up with physical and mental health effects including worse sleeping patterns, higher levels of blood pressure and stress. Furthermore, the approaching date of a holiday can also give us something to work and aim for, and sustain levels of motivation in the workplace.

Increased Independence and Self-Confidence

Travelling abroad can bring myriad personal benefits, including an increased sense of independence and self-confidence. Navigating new countries and overcoming language barriers in foreign environments can help people feel much more confident in themselves as they exhibit cultural adaptability skills and independence.

From the hectic streets of Marrakech to the sardine packed metros of Tokyo, travelling can be a daunting task from afar. While we may initially doubt ourselves with the idea of navigating one particular country, culturally immersing ourselves and overcoming obstacles can remind us of how capable we actually are.

Develop a More Active Lifestyle

View of Rannerdale Knotts from across Crummock Water

Travellers will also benefit from “Behavioural Activation” – a clinical term to describe a technique in which a patient takes part in engaging activities in order to improve their mental health. Commonly used in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to treat patients suffering from mental health issues or substance addiction (sometimes treated at an alcoholism recovery facility), Behavioural Activation can be a byproduct of travelling.

Behavioural Activation encourages patients to use problem solving skills, time management, and more to experience positive emotions by completing objectives. Patients often experience feel-good hormones – through dopamine and serotonin – after completing an activity, whether it be cooking a meal, creating art, or other.

Travellers frequently experience these feel good hormones after completing tasks on their itinerary, whether it means getting from one place to another, visiting cultural landmarks, completing scenic hikes, and much more. Ultimately, this encourages people to be more active in their life by seeking out engaging and target-oriented tasks.

Realign Your Priorities

Travelling can be a period of introspection. Visiting new countries, experiencing new cultures, and making friends with people from all walks of life can help you realise exactly what you want from life. Stepping outside your comfort zone will enlighten you and expose you to different paths. Some of these paths may entice you, whereas others may fill you with gratitude for what you already have.

Travelling can be challenging, especially when we’re by ourselves in a foreign environment. But the expanded worldview, enhanced critical thinking skills, and moments of self-reflection can pave the way to a better version of ourselves.

Meeting People & Positive Social Interactions

Your environment at home may be having an adverse effect on the state of your mental health. Whether you’re suffering from poor relationships, social isolation, exposure to drug and alcohol consumption, a change of scenery may allow you to move forward by changing environments and meeting new people.

Studies show that there are many mental health benefits associated with socialising and meeting new people. In addition to combating social isolation, positive social interactions can release endorphins, which then decreases levels of anxiety and depression. As social creatures, it’s important that we receive mental stimulation from socialising.

Additionally, socialising with new people can introduce you to new interests, social circles, and engaging relationships. Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, traveling will introduce you to interesting people from all walks of life, and these people can become monumental figures in your life.

Learn New Languages

As another form of Behavioural Activation, learning a new language can not only provide you with new skills but also improved mental health. In addition to the positive feelings you’ll experience when you successfully use a new phrase or phrase in a foreign language, studies show that language learning benefits brain health significantly.

Some of the neurological benefits associated with language learning include:

Increased grey matter: Language learning can lead to a development of grey matter in the brain. Gray matter is associated with basic cognitive functions such as memorisation, emotional regulation, sensory perception, and much more. Low grey matter is associated with symptoms such as poor memorisation and motor skills.
Form and strengthen neural pathways: Learning a language can form new neural pathways in the brain which support skill development, brain health, and prevent cognitive decline.
Dopamine: One of the most simple benefits of language learning is the feeling of pleasure and reward when we complete a task or learn new things. Improving our language skills can boost the release of dopamine in the brain, which not only makes us feel good but also encourages us to continue learning.

Widen Your Perspective

Exposing ourselves to a wide range of cultures can diversify our mindset and widen our perspective. Whether you visit a country which practices Buddhism and mindfulness or you head somewhere which exhibits beautiful tropical landscapes, putting ourselves in new environments can help us develop a greater perspective on life.

Some studies actually suggest that international travel makes us more creative. Creativity, linked to neuroplasticity, can be stimulated and enhanced in response to new environments and habits. However, the study also suggests that partying in the tourist centre won’t necessarily enhance this creativity, but living like a local will.

When visiting new countries, we also tend to romanticise their excellent qualities. Maybe you think that the wine in Italy, the transport in South Korea, or the relaxed and nonchalant attitude of Thailand is better than what you’re accustomed to at home. However, you may also encounter instances of poverty, social inequality, political unrest, and more to contemplate, which also allows you to develop gratitude for what you have back home.

How to Seek Mental Health Support Today

While travelling can provide immense levels of physical and mental health benefits, it’s important that we don’t use it to substitute professional clinical support.

Whether you’re suffering from anxiety, depression, drug or alcohol addiction, or another condition which has adverse effects on your life, it’s important to seek professional support as soon as you can.

In addition to seeking support from your local GP, you can access these mental health helplines if you’re based in the UK: