We're celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week!
10/05/2021
Today
marks the launch of Mental Health Awareness Week, the UK’s national week to
raise awareness of mental health.
The
week, which is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, is in its 21st
year and runs from 10-16 May.
This
year, the theme for the week is ‘Nature’. Across the country, people will be
celebrating the mental health benefits of being around nature in their local
community in a range of digital and creative ways. Online, Busy Bees Education
and Training will be sharing tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your
time in nature, and encouraging our apprentices to understand the benefits of
outdoor learning. As well as this, we’ll be offering 50% off our Mental Health
Training for all courses booked this week!
Our CEO Clare Phizacklea
has said: “Mental Health Awareness week is important this year as a result of
the unprecedented year the UK and the whole world have and are still
experiencing as a result of Covid-19.
The pandemic
has highlighted and exacerbated the anxieties some people experience through
isolation and lockdown. Ensuring we spend time outside, walking and
exercising is a great way to get you out of the same four walls that working
from home has led us all to experience much more of.
It really improves your mood when you can get
some fresh air and speak to other people on your walks albeit socially
distanced.”
Some
of the ways people can participate in Mental Health Awareness Week:
-
During Mental Health Awareness Week, why not try to
make a habit each day of connecting to nature in your local area? Stop to
listen to the birdsong, smell the freshly cut grass, take care of a house
plant, notice any trees, flowers, or animals nearby. Take a moment to appreciate
these connections.
- Share images/videos/or just sound recordings of the nature on your doorstep (and how this made you feel) on social media using #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
In your Early Years settings, engage your children
in outdoor learning, and discover the benefits of learning outdoors not only
for children, but for yourselves too!
For
more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week visit
mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw or join the conversation on social media using #ConnectWithNature
and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
