Connect
May 2021
Caroline Biddle
Executive Director of Human Resources cbiddle@bedford.ac.uk
Mental Health Awareness Week
May brings us Mental Health Awareness Week which is an annual event when there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. The Mental Health Foundation started the event 21 years ago and each year sets a theme. This year the theme is ‘Nature’. The Foundation chose this theme because “being in nature is known to be an effective way of tackling mental health problems and of protecting our wellbeing. This seemed particularly important this year. Research has shown that being in nature has been one of the most popular ways the people have tried to sustain good mental health at a challenging time. Nature is not going to solve all mental health issues, but connecting with nature can play an important part in improving people’s mental health and make us feel better about ourselves”
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During Mental Health Awareness Week, The Foundation is asking people to do three things: 1. Experience nature by taking time to recognise and grow your connection with nature during the week. 2. Share nature by taking a photo, video or sound recording and share the connections you’ve made during the week to inspire others. 3. Talk about nature in the family, workplace and community including how to help others find ways to connect with nature in your local environment. For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw Source: Mental Health Foundation
May 2021
