For this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, led by the Mental Health Foundation, the theme is nature. Here we look at ways you can connect with nature and the benefits to your mental health.

From visiting our local parks to tending to plants indoors, spending quality time with nature has been proven to have a positive effect on our mood. It can help to reduce feelings of stress and improve our mental and physical health. Over the past year, many people used daily walks or spending time in green spaces as ways to cope during the pandemic.

Below we’ve listed some of our favourite ways to connect with nature. We have also included quotes from our volunteers, staff and supporters who shared how they connect with nature.

The simplest of pleasures of hot tea, outdoors, in nature, with friends. It slows the world, resets everything, refocuses the mind and brings one into the moment. Our winner — every single time.

Bunty, Oxfordshire

Click here for full article:https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/if-youre-having-difficult-time/nature-mental-health/