Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

This week, 10th-16th May is Mental Health Foundation Mental Health Awareness Week. This year the focus is on Nature, and the impact this can have on our mental health.

Nature has a unique ability to not only bring consolation in times of stress, but also increase our creativity, empathy and a sense of wonder. It is not just being in nature, but how we open ourselves up and interact with nature that counts. Even small contacts with nature can reduce feelings of social isolation and be effective in protecting our mental health, and preventing distress.

During long months of the pandemic, many of us turned to nature. Research by the Mental Health Foundation on the mental health impacts of the pandemic showed going for walks outside was one of the top coping strategies, and 45% of people reported being in green spaces had been vital for mental health. Websites which showed footage from webcams of wildlife saw hits increase by over 2000%. Wider studies also found that during lockdowns, people not only spent more time in nature, but were noticing it more. It was as if we were re-discovering, at our most fragile point, our fundamental human need to connect with nature.

What you can do this week?
We want to hear your stories of how nature has supported your mental health. This might be as a simple as tending to a house plant, listening to the birds, touching the bark of trees, smelling flowers or writing a poem about our favourite nature spot. Whatever it is for you, we invite you to #ConnectWithNature and share what this means for you.

During Mental Health Awareness Week, we are asking you to do three things: 

1. Experience nature: Take time to recognise and grow your connection with nature during the week. Take a moment to notice and celebrate nature in your daily life. You might be surprised by what you notice!
2. Share nature: Take a photo, video or sound recording and share the connections you’ve made during the week, to inspire others. Join the discussion on how you’re connecting with nature by using the hashtags #ConnectWithNature and share to our school social media accounts.
3. Talk about nature: How can you can help encourage people to find new ways to connect with nature in your local environment.

For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week click here, or join the conversation on social media using #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek