This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week and this year has been extremely challenging for our industry and students as we have faced the hurdles that have come with the pandemic.
The awareness week is hosted and run by the Mental Health Foundation and the theme this year is ‘Nature’.
The Mental Health Foundation’s Chief Executive, Mark Rowland explains why they've chosen nature as this year’s theme: “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.”
Here at Remtek we’re all too aware of the increase in mental health issues that have arisen with the pandemic, especially for students working from home.
We’ve been looking at ways to support DSA students throughout the pandemic and giving them the tools to continue with their studies with confidence.
In March our dedicated student site, Remtek Students recognised University Mental Health Day, by sharing a range of resources to support students through their academic year. The full article can be found here! We also created our top five tips to help students de-stress during stress awareness month in April, which can be found here!
Some top tips on how you can build your own connection with nature
The Mental Health Foundation has shared its top tips on connecting with nature to improve your mental health:
- Find nature wherever you are
- Connect with nature using all of your senses
- Get out into nature
- Bring nature to you
- Exercise in nature
- Combine nature with creativity
- Protect nature
Download their full top tips PDF here!
Getting involved in this year’s theme
Stories are the best way to get involved in this year’s ‘nature’ theme. We’re encouraging people to share their stories on how nature has supported mental health, including any scenic walks or areas that you have found during the pandemic.
You can also join, take action, get active, and throughout the month of May, take part in half an hour of exercise each day, outdoors to support the Mental Health Foundation.
Complete just 30 minutes a day, by running, jogging, skipping or walking. Be as creative as you like!
Explore and share the positive impact that nature and being outdoors can have on your mental health this week, by using the #ConnectWithNature hashtag.
