2021 Mental Health Awareness Week – Connecting with nature
The benefits of nature on our mental health and wellbeing
Monday 10 May 2021, marks the launch of Mental Health Awareness Week, the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health.
The week, which is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, is in its 21st year and runs from 10-16 May.
This year, the theme for the week is all around ‘Nature’ and the benefits it can have on improving our mental health and wellbeing. Mind BLMK are asking supporters to celebrate the benefits of being around nature by spending time in their local green space, sharing their experiences of connecting with nature has made them feel and requesting any photos that are taken throughout the week to be sent to be sent to the team to celebrate their local scenery.
Caroline Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Mind BLMK, said –
Connecting with nature is an essential part of maintaining positive mental health and well-being. When we’re in nature, it can help to keep us grounded and present. It allows you to step away from your daily worries or stresses and help to improve your mood. There isn’t any right or wrong way to connect with nature, it is something that should feel right for you.
Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation explains how nature has played a crucial role in maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing over the past year, Mark said –
“Our research on the mental health impacts of the pandemic showed that going for walks outside was one of our top coping strategies and 45% of people reported that being in green space had been vital to their mental health. It was as if we were re-discovering at our most fragile point, our fundamental human need to connect with nature.”
Some of the ways you can support Mind BLMK throughout Mental Health Awareness Week:
- Try to make a habit each day of the week, to connect with the nature in your local area. Stop to listen to the birdsong, smell the freshly cut grass, take care of a house plant, notice any trees, flowers or animals nearby. Take a moment to appreciate these connections.
- Share images/videos/or just sound recordings of the nature on your doorstep (and how this made you feel) on social media using #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and tagging us using @MindBLMK on Twitter and Instagram.
- Take part in Mind BLMK’s Carry the Burden campaign to represent the invisible burden people living with mental health difficulties carry every single day. Select an item of your choosing that is connected to nature, this could be a plant, watering can or flower and carry it for a full 24hrs.
For more information about Carry the Burden and how you can support Mind BLMK across Mental Health Awareness week, please visit – https://www.mind-blmk.org.uk/support-us/carry-the-burden/
Posted on: 7th May 2021
