Today, 10th May 2021, marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK. This year's theme is Nature.
Northern Training Academy will be putting hints and tips out on our Facebook page throughout the week. Be sure to check it out and share your photos & videos in the comments, or use the hashtags '#ConnectWithNature' and '#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek'.
Help Mental Health Foundation get the nation talking about mental health by taking a moment to celebrate nature in your daily life. Nature can really help put things in perspective, take the pressure off and bring calm, wonder, and joy to our daily lives.
More than half of UK adults say that being close to nature improved their mental health
What can I do to play my part in Mental Health Awareness Week?
- Make a habit every day of connecting to nature. Plant a seed, smell the flowers, admire the sunrise, watch how the trees dance in the wind, go for a walk.
- Share photos and videos of nature and your surroundings using the hashtags '#ConnectWithNature' and '#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek'.
- Plan a day out to the beach or countryside where you can engage with nature.
Four in Ten people said nature made them feel less worried or anxious
Mark Rowland Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation said:
“Mental Health Awareness Week has grown to be one of the biggest awareness weeks in the UK. This year the theme is on nature and its central role for our mental health. Since the beginning of the pandemic, millions of us turned to nature to help us get through lockdowns and our research shows that good mental health depends on us being able to connect with nature in some way and its power in both prevention of and recovery from poor mental health.
“During the week, we want to hear millions of people’s stories about how the natural world has supported their mental health.
“We also want to highlight the huge disparities between who is and who isn’t able to access nature. We want the week to explore how everyone across the UK can connect with nature and experience the mental health benefits wherever they live.”
Almost two thirds of people said being near to nature meant that they had positive emotions
Remember to keep a lookout across NTA's social media platforms, and share your photos and videos using the hashtags!
You can find out more about National Mental Health Awareness Week at: