Mental Health Resources
Throughout the pandemic many of us have struggled with the added pressures lockdown brought but as lockdown lifts we will see many of us suffering with mental health issues with the new normal.
It’s ok to not be ok. We need to realise that our feelings are justified even if it feels like everyone around you is managing things well it’s fine to not be keeping up. There are many resources out there if you need to reach out, many of these helping us to connect with nature to improve our mental wellbeing.
General Organisations:
A leading force for change, this charity campaigns for greater awareness and access to support. Mind can answer all your questions surrounding mental health and give you tailored advice about what support is available to you.
Phone number: 0300 123 3393
Opening hours: 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)
Providing round-the-clock support (literally 24 hours a day, 365 days a year), Samaritans is on a mission to prevent suicide. Call this non-judgemental service if you’re struggling, experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation or just need someone to talk to.
Phone number: 116 123
Opening hours: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
A number of studies have suggested that the majority of mental health issues develop before the age of 24 indicating a necessity for early intervention. YoungMinds leads the way in supporting young people and those around them with dealing with mental health issues. Their helpline specifically addresses concerned parents.
Phone number: 0808 802 5544
Opening hours: 9:30am – 4pm, Monday to Friday
Horrifyingly, suicide is the UK’s biggest threat to males under 45. This charity aims to combat this tragic issue with advice and support for men aged between 15 to 35.
Phone number: 0800 58 58 58 (nationwide), 0808 802 58 58 (London)
Opening hours: 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year
Nature focused organisations:
The Trusts run projects up and down the country helping people improve the health, they look after nature reserves for people to visit and take exercise without knowing it. They also help businesses and their employees improve their health and wellbeing and they continue to build the evidence that contact with wildlife is good for human health.
Their mission is to preserve wild places and change lives through outreach programmes that educate, inspire and reconnect people facing a number of challenges in their lives. The foundation create opportunities for those wishing to learn more about their relationship with the natural world and what they can do to protect it. The content of their Wilderness programmes aims to equip and enable people to acquire skills from within themselves to navigate their futures safely and successfully. They are working to keep people healthy and our planet wild!
There are also some great podcasts out there to listen to, they can teach us more about the benefits of nature to mental health, let us hear others stories and even transport us into nature whilst we sit in the comfort of our own home.
Podcasts:
Liv Bolton runs the podcast to inspire you to make adventures outdoors a bigger part of your life. One of the episodes with Lucy Loveday delves into the benefits of our natural world for our mental health and gives a great account Lucy’s personal experiences.
Head on a gentle stroll through the British countryside with Claire Balding and a variety of wonderful guests.
Sarah Allely documents how her rediscovery of nature played a key role in her recovery from a brain injury. With rich sound design, Sarah gives us the opportunity to experience what she did and investigates why the sounds of nature were so soothing to her when the sounds of the city became unbearable.
This production has been running since 2010 so there’s an extensive back catalogue to keep you busy, packed full of interesting stories and features covering all things bird and wildlife from across the globe.
This fantastic (13 years running) production is the podcast interpretation of a story told by the campfire. Snuggle under a blanket, light a candle and pretend you’re out camping in the woods.
The kids will love joining Dr Ann Jones as she explores all the weird and wonderful sounds that Australian wildlife makes. Listen out for baby boobook owls, grunting koalas, frogs that sound like motorbikes and lots more. Each episode even ends with a quiz to test your knowledge.
While some of us are soaring above the clouds on a mental health high many of us are experiencing a grey dark day below the clouds and may need some support.
Mental Health Awareness Mental Health Awareness Mental Health Awareness Month Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 Mental Health Resources nature Podcasts
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