Mental Health Awareness 2021 – Nature

This year’s theme is nature and the environment. The evidence is clear that access to nature is crucial for our mental health and millions of people discovered that during lockdowns in 2020.

Facts + Figures:

  • 75% of UK adults in the YouGov survey stated nature has been important in terms of managing their health during lockdown
  • 34% of UK adults have connected more with nature
  • 49% said being close to nature helps them cope with stress
  • 70% of the words population is anticipated to live in urban areas by 2050

How to positively impact your mental health with nature:

  • Put time aside to recognise and appreciate your surroundings
  • Try to spend time visiting natural places – green spaces like parks, gardens or forest
  • Whether its cardio or strength training set yourself up outside

Get involved and support the mental health foundation here.

Listen to the below and improve both your mental and physical health by exercising just 10 minutes a day!

During long months of the pandemic, millions of us turned to nature. Our research on the mental health impacts of the pandemic showed going for walks outside was one of our top coping strategies and 45% of us reported being in green spaces 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.

It was as if we were re-discovering at our most fragile point our fundamental human need to connect with nature. – Mark Rowland, CEO, Mental Health