Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 - Nature

Jen Hawkins, PAVO Health & Wellbeing Officer - wild swimming

“Nature is our great untapped resource for a mentally healthy future” The Mental Health Foundation

The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (10 - 16 May 2021) is Nature.

The Mental Health Foundation, the charity which has hosted the annual Mental Health Awareness Week since 2000, explains why Nature is the chosen theme:

“Nature is so central to our psychological and emotional health, that it’s almost impossible to realise good mental health for all without a greater connection to the natural world. For most of human history, we lived as part of nature. It is only in the last five generations that so many of us have lived and worked in a context that is largely separated from nature. And it is only since a 1960s study in the United States found that patients who were treated in hospitals with a view of nature recovered faster, that science has started to unpack the extraordinary health benefits.” You can read more here.

Most of us have felt much closer to nature over the past 12 months during the repeated Covid lockdowns, including those of us in our Health & Wellbeing team at Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations. The Mental Health Foundation’s research shows that during the pandemic “45% of us reported that being in green spaces had been vital for our mental health.” During this awareness week they will be showing how “even small contacts with nature can reduce feelings of social isolation and be effective in protecting our mental health, and preventing distress.”

We are particularly lucky in Mid Wales - nature is all around us - sometimes in its grandest forms, but also more subtly on every doorstep, even in the middle of our town centres, nature is always in evidence and there to lift our spirits.

Here’s how we have connected with nature over recent weeks and months.

Jen Hawkins - PAVO Health & Wellbeing Officer

I’ve always loved swimming outdoors, we never called it anything other than swimming when I was growing up but now there are a lot of different names for outdoor swimming as it’s become more popular, especially during the last year with indoor pools and gyms closed. Open water, cold water, wild, are all ways of describing the experience but they don’t really come close. There is something so incredibly peaceful about being totally immersed in water and surrounded by natural beauty. 

The coldness of the water makes sure you are nothing but totally present and in the moment, there simply is no other option. Being aware of the movement of a current or tide, watching falling leaves skim the surface, sharing the space with visiting swallows and swifts in the summer, listening to early morning birdsong, or the drone of a dragonfly next to you, all contribute to the experience. I’ve never swum through the winter before but decided to try this year after reading about the research into mental health benefits.The coldest temperature I’ve managed was 3 degrees, the feeling after coming out from that swim was something close to euphoric. It’s definitely something I’m going to keep up and try as many different locations as possible. It’s lovely to feel that sense of being held and all being well with the world.

Clair Swales - PAVO Head of Health & Wellbeing

This tree outside our house always signals the start of spring and longer, brighter days to come. The pink blossoms always give me so much joy and make me smile. Spring time walks remind me to be grateful for nature, which has its own special way of telling us that no matter what life throws at us we can rejuvenate and renew ourselves. Like the Fifth Step to Wellbeing - pay attention to the present moment. For me it’s paying attention to what nature is telling us at any given time.

Jackie Newey - PAVO Mental Health Information Officer

Every week I go on a local walk in the hills around Llanidloes, or the town itself, and look for wildflowers for the weekly #wildflowerhour challenge on Twitter (also Facebook and Instagram). I’ve learnt so much about wildflowers and nature from the wonderful #wildflowerhour online community. It is one of those unique outdoor-online combos that has proved so successful. 

The walk is an escape from the everyday routine of work, family commitments and the mundane chores of life. It gives me an opportunity to focus purely on the lovely native plants growing all around us at all times of the year. It is as much about my wellbeing as it is about recording nature and learning how to identify the quite subtle differences between wavy and hairy bittercress! Some of my favourite finds have actually been throughout the depths of a hard, cold winter around Llanidloes town, where against all the odds wildflowers such as the beautiful ivy-leaved toadflax, wild strawberry and shepherd’s purse thrive in sheltered nooks at the base of shop doorways, walls and in brownfield sites. Finding these beauties at this time of year (the challenge in winter is to find 10 wildflowers in bloom) is such a boost to my mental wellbeing. I can highly recommend trying this treasure hunt with a difference - and celebrating our feisty yet beautiful nature!

Lucy Taylor - PAVO Startwell Development Officer

Being outside is important for us all, from the fresh air and the feel of freedom it gives, to more measurable benefits in terms of health and activity. Being outside is especially important for children as sometimes the opportunity to go out is not in their hands. Just playing outside, doing what they want to do, is calming, inspiring and healthy.

Playing on the beach on a nice sunny day what could be better for anyone? A lot of adults need to regain the ability to play, to relax and do things that do not have a purpose, but just for their own enjoyment.

Let's go fly a kite!

Owen Griffkin - PAVO Mental Health Participation Officer

It was wonderful to see some new additions on the lake at Llandrindod on a special birthday walk with my dog Honey (5 today!) Along with the Muscovy ducks, terrapins and occasional guinea fowl that have taken up residence there. It has become a really lovely place for a walk.

Sue Newham - PAVO Engagement Officer

Since June last year, I have been walking every morning with my husband, doing a circular route which takes in the riverside in Newtown. It’s been great to see the changes through the seasons. Last week, we saw a goosander doing a flapping/ skating dance across the surface, presumably to panic the fish and enable him to catch one. This morning, so many spring flowers were visible. 

Walking in green spaces has improved my feelings of happiness. The colours in nature seem restful somehow. The other good thing is that we often see the same people out walking, so we have the opportunity to chat and we are getting to know some of them by name. That’s nice too. The picture is from a walk in February - a shadow selfie!

Andrew Davies - PAVO Health & Wellbeing Participation Officer

Me and my wife and my 2 girls try and get out in nature as much as we can, we are very lucky to live in such beautiful surroundings and it helps us reconnect as a family. The girls love to run and play when we are out and about and it is so good for us as parents to see them grow and explore.

We'd love to hear about how you connect with nature. Let us know in the comments below how nature has impacted on your mental health and wellbeing.