This year’s mental health awareness day comes at just the right time to reflect on the significant challenges the last 18 months of covid-related restrictions have created for many. Luckily, for the UK at least, focus is shifting to the promise of release, refresh and renewal that moving on from this shared chapter in our lives will bring.

My hands-down favourite phrase to emerge around the pandemic is borrowed with pride from my friend, adventurer and mental health ambassador, Alex Staniforth. He talked even before the lockdowns began, about the outdoors being our ‘Natural Health Service’ (NHS). I love the idea and feeling that this phrase brings with it – a freely available, healing opportunity that we can all chose to tap in to, whenever we want or need to, regardless of where we live.

I know that being outdoors has been a stress and anxiety reliever and lifeline for many, over many years – and so as we venture into this next phase, I’m eager to encourage us all to remember to retain our newly acquired good habits, and keep building new habits that connect us with nature. It helps.

Remember to watch that sunrise or sunset. Listen to the dawn chorus every now and again. Multi-task that team call outside, so that you can feel the fresh air, watch the clouds scurry by and benefit from the change of scenery. We are all better for it – whether we are specifically trying to focus on improving our mental health, or just enjoying the healthy by-products of being outdoors.

Hurray! for our Natural Health Service – let’s continue to make the most of what it offers to us!

Here’s a reminder from Alex Staniforth, sharing top tips on #mentalhealth #resilience and #nature.



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