Skip to content

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Connecting with nature to improve mental health

Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation each year. This year, it takes place from 10-16 May and the theme is 'Nature'. The Foundation hopes that each year, Mental Health Awareness week will give the whole of the UK the opportunity to focus on achieving good mental health. It is open to everyone and the aim is to start conversations about mental health and the things in our daily lives that can affect it.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, therefore, it is vital that we all do our best to look after our mental health and get support if we need to.

How can nature help our mental health?

According to the Mental Health Foundation, being in nature is known to be an effective way of tackling mental health problems and protecting our wellbeing.

Through our own research at the Mental Health Foundation, we know that spending time outdoors has been one of the key factors enabling people to cope with the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, nearly half (45%) of people in the UK told us that visiting green spaces, such as parks, helped them to cope. - the Mental Health Foundation

'You don't have to climb a mountain to feel the benefit'

It's no secret that being outdoors in the fresh air is good for us for many different reasons, mentally and physically, but what if you don't have access to wide open spaces or beautiful rolling hills? Luckily the Mental Health Foundation have complied some simple tips to help us all bring nature into our daily lives, whether you live in a city or in the countryside.

Follow the Mental Health Foundation on Twitter for more tips and information this Mental Health Awareness week, and to help them get the nation talking about nature and mental health.