This year’s theme of Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘anxiety’. While this is an emotion many of us have temporarily experienced, for some, it can become a mental health issue that can affect our day-to-day lives.

Symptoms can range from a high heart rate and clammy hands to longer-term impacts of high blood pressure and chronic stress.

Fortunately, one thing that is known to help reduce anxiety levels is connecting with the outdoors. Spending time in nature, whether it’s through physical activities like sports and walking, to gardening, can help you relax (NHS, 2021). The effects of nature on conditions such as anxiety are so beneficial that the NHS has begun ‘Green social prescribing’ which encourages nature-based interventions, including growing food and community gardens.

Mind also lists the positive effects of being in green spaces as:
•    Improved mood
•    Reduced feelings of stress or anger
•    Helping take time out and feel more relaxed
•    Improved physical health
•    Improved confidence and self-esteem
•    Help with being more active
•    Help with meeting and getting to know new people
•    Connecting to your local community
•    Reduced loneliness
•    Feeling more connected to nature

Therefore, it’s no surprise many people find that connecting with nature provides a boost to their mental health.

Eco anxiety

Eco anxiety or climate anxiety is also becoming a more prominent public health issue, given the continued threat of the climate crisis. Therefore, if being in nature helps us feel happier and more energised, we can do so that also helps nature.

If gardening, you can do this in a sustainable way. You can contribute to lowering your plastic consumption by creating an edible garden, or you can be conscious about the types of compost you use (those that don’t contain peat!). If you live in an urban area you could create a Wild Space on a balcony or in a pot and help to support nature in your local area (as well as increasing your chances of seeing some beautiful species!) 

Likewise, as you’re out and about, you can take part in recording the species you see. This can go beyond the up and coming annual Big Butterfly Count (14th July to 6th August) to include other species, from birds to hedgehogs. Records like these help us understand the health of wildlife populations up and down the UK that. Taking part not only gets you out in the open and enjoying fresh air but connects you with nature, making you an integral part of looking after the environment.

With this new connection with nature, you are then supporting yourself to get the benefits of improved physical health, increased mood, and – hopefully – lower anxiety levels.

Oftentimes it can be easier said than done, but it’s always worth getting a walk where you can and letting yourself have a moment to take in the amazing nature around us.