Research shows that enjoying the sunshine can lead to mental health benefits

According to a recent study by the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors.

Research shows that children who have attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) scored higher on a test of concentration after a walk through a park than those who walked through a neighborhood or downtown, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

Furthermore, researchers from the University of Essex in England believe that exercising outside provides mental health benefits and can alleviate symptoms of depression. By being out in the sunshine, levels of vitamin D can increase, which experts suggest plays a role in protecting people from depression.

Programs for troubled teens can help those who suffer from ADHD or depression by providing recreational activities designed to relieve the symptoms of mental conditions.

According to a 2008 study by childstats.gov, approximately 42 percent of teens between the ages of 16 and 17 have reported receiving treatment for at least one major depressive episode. Meanwhile, research shows that girls were more likely than boys to receive help for a mental condition.