It’s week three of Mental Health Awareness Month and we’re turning our attention to mental health in the outdoors. Did you know that immersing yourself in nature isn’t just a leisurely pastime, it’s an investment in your mental wellbeing. In today’s fast-paced world, where screens dominate our attention and urban landscapes can feel suffocating, the call of the great outdoors offers a refreshing remedy. Exploring nature isn’t just about having fun, it’s a special trip that can make us feel better in many different ways. Whether it’s the quiet sound of leaves or the beautiful views around us, exposure to nature is proven to help us feel happier and calmer.
This week, we’ve compiled resources to explain how time spent outdoors can help our minds and our bodies, and how even a little outdoor exposure can have a big impact. Read on to learn how being in nature can make us feel better overall.
SELECTED RESOURCES
Feeling Funky? Head Outside for Better Wellbeing
By Elaine K. Howley M.A.Â
A growing body of evidence has begun shedding light on just how important getting outside can be for mental health and overall wellbeing, and it’s not just because ultraviolet light on your skin can boost vitamin D levels.
Our connection to the outdoors goes well beyond this skin-deep reality, and our need to find green and blue spaces (settings dominated by plants and waterways) is becoming more important than ever in our highly digitized, nonstop world.
What’s So Great About Forest Bathing?
By Tracey Marks M.D., Marks Psychiatry and Forensic Services
Forest bathing is based on a Japanese practice called shinrin-yoku developed in 1982 by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Shinrin-yoku, which translates to forest well or forest bathing in English, is defined as making contact with and taking in the atmosphere of the forest. This is something you can do on your own, but the practice of forest therapy uses trained guides who set the pace and help you mindfully experience the forest using all of your senses.
Why Are Doctors Prescribing Nature?
Chasing Life
CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to Dr. Melissa Lem, founder of the first national nature-prescription program in Canada, about the health benefits of nature and why we all need a regular dose of the outdoors.
Listen to the 30-minute Podcast Here
The Health Benefits of Going Outside
The Atlantic
As people spend more time indoors, ecotherapy is emerging as a way to help rebuild our relationships with nature—and improve mental and physical health. In this video, James Hamblin visits San Francisco to learn more.
NEW! SERIES OF THE WEEKÂ
Healing with Breathwork
This series will show you how to focus on your breath to reduce anxiety and stress. With these simple exercises, you’ll discover how to harness the power of your breath and experience its positive effects.
Each resource is designed to be accessible and easy to follow, so that you can begin your journey with confidence.
Explore more resources
#wellbeingwednesday #ihscm
