It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and this year the theme is ‘Nature’.
Over
the last year, we have all been confined to our homes, with many of us
struggling to cope with our mental health. Evidence shows that going for
walks outside was one of the top coping strategies and 45% of people
reported that being in green spaces has been vital for their mental
health throughout the pandemic.
However,
many of us may face barriers that might stop us connecting with nature.
For example, you may be limited by your environment and access to
outdoor space. Or you may be unused to spending time in green space and
find it uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Our partners at Togetherall have
created some tips and suggestions for you to consider:
Start
small – Try spending just five minutes a day for the next week paying
attention to nature in your everyday life. Just taking a brief moment to
notice and celebrate nature can help you to be more present in your
daily life - and you might be surprised by what you notice!
Do
things you find relaxing – You might like to go for a walk, read or
paint in natural surroundings. Remember, that being outdoors doesn’t
always have to be exercising, sometimes just being is enough.
Ask
for support – If you feel anxious in new places or social situations,
you could ask someone you trust to go with you at first or you could
even connect with others & share how you’re feeling on Togetherall.
Did you know that you have FREE access to Togetherall mental health
support? Togetherall is a safe, anonymous online community. You can get
support, or you can support others. Sign up here today. https://account.v2.togetherall.com/register/area
Bring
nature indoors – If finding vast outside space isn’t geographically
possible, or maybe it feels overwhelming at the moment, you could
explore ways of bringing nature indoors. A small and simple way to bring
nature inside can be buying flowers, or even taking photos of your
favourite places in nature. Use these pictures as backgrounds on a
mobile phone or computer screen as a reminder of those relaxing moments
you have captured.
We
all have different experiences of nature, and different reasons for
wanting to connect with it more. This Mental Health Awareness Week we
invite you to #ConnectWithNature and share what this means for you at
Togetherall.com. Sign up here today. https://account.v2.togetherall.com/register/area