Mental Health Awareness Week 2021: Nature and the Environment
It’s time to get back to nature! This year, Mental Health Awareness Week's theme is Nature and the Environment, with the aim to spread the message of the powerful benefits that nature has on our mental health and well-being. Answer honestly. How much time do you spend staring at a screen each day? How often do you experience the natural world? In a world buzzing with noisy notifications, pinging e-mails, brightly lit screens and never-ending Netflix binges, it seems like humanity is drifting further away from its natural habitat. ‘Nature deprivation’ is a real problem and unfortunately, not everyone is aware of the great health benefits that being in nature brings.
The health benefits of nature
Since the 1960s study that found patients who were treated in hospitals with a view of nature recovered faster, scientists have started to unpack the extraordinary health benefits of nature1. There is a strong connection between time spent in a thriving, wildlife-rich environment and reduced stress, anxiety and depression. In fact, Ecotherapy, a formal type of therapeutic treatment which involves doing outdoor activities in nature, is a popular treatment for many mental health conditions2. Luckily for us, we can take Ecotherapy into our own hands as its free, easy and accessible! Whether it’s gently caring for your plants, wearing out your walking boots or eating a delicious dinner alfresco, it's time to leave your phone at home and get outside to appreciate Mother Nature in all her healing glory!
Employee mental health awareness
After the UK’s first lockdown in March 2020, there have been many obstacles to overcome in the workplace. With millions of workers having to adapt to remote working overnight, on top of personal stresses and economic uncertainty, cultivating positive employee well-being has never been more crucial. We live in unprecedented times and sometimes people need a helping hand. So, why not take inspiration from Mental Health Awareness Week and encourage your employees to get back to nature? This is the perfect opportunity to look at incorporating nature into your well-being or recognition programme. Performance incentives and long-service awards are important but it’s also vital to recognise that your employees’ well-being may have been affected by the pandemic. Discover employee rewards that will not only recognise your employees’ continued loyalty and support but will also encourage them to get out for a healthy dose of nature's healing powers. From epic skydiving to gentle kayaking, treat your employees to some ‘me time’ surrounded by nature.
Boost employee well-being with experiences in nature
As Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation says, ‘Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 will be an opportunity to […] ensure everyone is able to share in the natural world and experience the mental health benefits3.’ Here at Red Letter Days, we’re by your side to support you create a comprehensive employee well-being programme. Discover a wide range of unique and imaginative products, perfect for treating your employees to heaps of fun out in nature. How about a gentle kayaking experience or a round of golf on a stunning course? For those who love the thrill of an adventure, a trip to Zip World combines adrenaline-pumping zip lining with breathtaking views of the Welsh scenery. From the high ropes at Go Ape and once-in-a-lifetime skydives to mountain biking and days out at the zoo, we’ve got heaps of adventures in the great outdoors that are the perfect dose of Ecotherapy. To discover how Red Letter Days Corporate can help you with a fantastic employee well-being programme, find out more on the Employee Experience and Loyalty page.
2. Mind, 2018
3. Mentalhealth, 2021