Embrace nature this World Mental Health Day

Today marks World Mental Health Day, so we’re taking a closer look at how nature and mental health and wellbeing interlink.

According the mental health charity Mind UK, 1 in 4 people in England will experience a common mental health problem of some kind each year. Meanwhile, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem of some kind in any given week, and 1 in 5 people have suicidal thoughts.

The environment itself and concerns around the climate crisis can also take its toll on our mental health, with the Office for National Statistics reporting that 75% of UK adults worry about the impact of climate change.

Furthermore, 1 in 3 UK adults report challenges with Seasonal Affective Disorder, according to research from The Weather Channel and YouGov.

However, despite the concerns around the environment, research also shows that nature can be healing.

Mind UK states that spending in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can have a significant impact on your mental and physical health.

Research from the charity says that doing things like growing food or flowers, exercising outdoors or being around animals can have lots of positive effects, such as improving your mood, reducing feels of stress or anger, improving confidence and self-esteem, connecting you to nature and your local community, reducing loneliness, improving physical health, and more.

Nurturing our mental health is vital to maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle and this World Mental Health Day, we’re exploring more about how nature, our environment, and our very own Laudato Si’ Centre can lend a helping hand.

We caught up with Dr Emma Gardner – head of environment at the Diocese of Salford, which runs our Laudato Si’ Centre – and Fay Watts – leader of the Take Action Together Community Interest Company, that is based at our centre – to find out more.