During Mental Health Awareness Week, the Mental Health Foundation is asking you to do three things: 

• 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!
• 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 #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
• Talk about nature: use our tips, school packs, research and policy guides to discuss in your family, school, workplace and community how you can help encourage people to find new ways to connect with nature in your local environment.

What better place to do this than in your local greenspace?

The Foundation's research on the mental health impacts of the pandemic showed going for walks outside was one of the top coping strategies and 45% of us reported being in greenspaces had been vital for our 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.

Mental Health Awareness Week  

Join the conversation on social media using #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek