Nature and the benefits on our mental health
This week, 10th-16th May, is mental health awareness week, a UK-wide event running each year to increase awareness of mental health.
For this year’s mental health awareness week, the theme is Nature, with the intention to acknowledge the benefits of, as well as encouraging the nation to continue to connect with nature to support and facilitate good mental health.
According to research by the Mental Health Foundation, going for walks outside and being in green spaces has been vital for our mental health to cope with the pandemic.
Nature provides psychological, social, and physical benefits that can all contribute to improving our mental health. Explore the details of these benefits below:
Improved psychological wellbeing
- Opportunity to relax — by connecting with nature you are encouraged to disconnect from technology, step away from the computer and find time to relax.
- Reduced feelings of stress or anger — enabling your senses to switch focus on the nature around you and appreciate natural beauty.
Improved physical wellbeing
- Exercise and movement
Getting into nature encourages us to get moving outdoors, whether simply walking or higher intensity exercises such as running or swimming. Physical exercise can improve our sleep and releases feel-good hormones giving you more energy and making you feel better.
- Access to fresher and cleaner air.
For many of us, particularly living in the city, we are exposed to industrial fumes and pollution that have a negative effect on our body, particularly our respiratory system. Getting out in the natural environment increases access to fresh air.
- Improved eyesight
Computer Vision Syndrome (CSV) is a real condition that arises from staring at the screen for too long — these exposures can take a toll on our eyesight and even lead to headaches, dry eyes, or worse. Nature can be a natural solution, removing us from our screens, exposing us to natural lights, and shifting focus to look at the green grass, trees, and flowers.
- Increased Vitamin D intake
Vitamin D is a vital nutrient needed to keep bones, teeth, and muscles healthy. Whilst we can increase our intake through diet and supplements, getting outside in nature with exposure to sunlight enables us to absorb Vitamin D naturally.
Improved social wellbeing
- Connecting with others
Getting out in nature can present new opportunities to interact and connect with others, whether walking with a friend or simply smiling at another dog walker.
- Sharing experiences
Sharing and describing your experiences or hobbies in nature can improve social interactions, sparking conversation, and forming or develop friendships.
How to connect with nature to support your mental health
Understanding the health benefits should encourage us to; find ways in which we can all connect to nature, to discover accessible resources, and which have the most positive impact on us at an individual level.
Try some of the examples below and see the improvements for yourself;
- Do activities outdoors — Switch up your everyday activities to outdoors, whether you go for a walk in your local park or cycle further afield. Try eating meals outdoors or watching the stars, giving yourself a break from screen or technology.
- Bring nature inside — take an opportunity to stay connected to nature whilst indoors through house plants or imagery of your favorite places in nature.
- Grow or pick your own food — giving you the opportunity to take care and nurture something else. Why not try growing herbs or vegetables in your home or an allotment?
- Help the environment — get closer to nature and feel good about helping the planet. Try a voluntary conservation project, planting helpful seeds, or building an animal habitat.
- Try ecotherapy — a formal type of therapeutic treatment which involves doing outdoor activities in nature. Over the last decade, this has been a recognised therapy to support those suffering from mental health illness and can be prescribed as a method to guide recovery. Find out more here.
Take time this week to reconnect with nature and see the benefits for your own mental health.
See more examples from Mind here.
Listen and Learn
Watch these short videos for more inspiration and encouragement to get back to nature to support your mental health.
Sir David Attenborough —Nature and Mental Health
Caroline Arnold — Get back to nature for good mental health
Dr. Nooshin Razani — Prescribing nature for health
See the below resources to learn more about mental health, or to find guidance and support for yourself or someone struggling with their mental health;