HORTOTERAPIA COMO COADJUVANTE AO TRATAMENTO DA DEPRESSÃO: RELATO DE MULHERES VINCULADAS AO PROGRAMA DE EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL EM UM CENTRO COMUNITÁRIO PARA IDOSOS

The health benefits of being in contact with nature have been reported, one example being horticultural therapy, also known as garden therapy, which has been a subject of interest in the environment / collective health interface. This work’s aim is to identify the perception that a number of women have in regards to their activity involving the care and growth of domestic gardens. It is an exploratory, descriptive, transversal, and qualitative research. Six women from an elderly community day center took part in this study. They have been interviewed and asked about their experiences of caring for the garden. The interviews were analyzed using a methodology of context of meaning. The accounts given by these women indicate that the contact with nature and with animals have positive effects on the emotional processes related to depression; that it promotes well-being, joy, and happiness. They make a case for the incorporation of horticultural therapy as a complement for the treatment of depression. In conclusion, the contact with nature and animals, the caring for gardens, and participating in community day centers are factors in the protection and promotion of health.