New research has found that mental health can be bolstered by just five minutes a day of exercising in the countryside or near to areas of water.

According to The Telegraph, positive effects were greatest in the young and mentally ill, prompting health professionals such as those in family support jobs to promote the use of green exercise in lifting moods and providing therapy.

The UK-based research, commissioned by the University of Essex, looked at 1,250 people from several previous studies, concluding that by partaking in activities such as walking, horse-riding, fishing, mountain biking, gardening and orienteering, individuals could boost their mental health. A ''walk a day should help keep the doctor away'' according to researchers, as well as reducing costs to an already over-burdened NHS.

As well as health professionals encouraging people to embrace green activities, the researchers have called on employers to promote green activities amongst staff, at a time when work-based anxiety is hitting the headlines, with current reports stating that stress at work can lead to an increased likelihood of heart disease in women.

Professor Jules Petty, one of the lead researchers on the study was cited in BBC News as commenting: ''Employers could encourage staff in stressful workplaces to take a short walk at lunchtime in the nearest park to improve mental health.''

The study presents a case that by taking regular green exercise, individual's can reduce their risk of depression or other mental illness, prompting many experts to call on NHS professionals to recommend green exercise as a part of treatment plans.

Chief executive of Mind, Paul Farmer, commented on the findings, saying: ''It's important that people experiencing depression can be given the option of a range of treatments, and we would like to see all doctors considering exercise as a treatment where appropriate.''