I recently read a tweet by a mental health professional and person with lived experience expressing some frustration that the ‘go outdoors’ message felt a bit like a cliché, particularly when given by those in clinical settings. She was clearly not saying that the message is wrong – going outdoors and connecting with nature has enormous benefits to our mental wellbeing. She was noting that in a time of over-stretched services and long waiting lists for treatment, it’s not enough on its own.

This got me thinking – at Mayfield Nurseries, our fundamental belief is that connecting with nature and being outdoors are a huge help for all of us, especially those of us who struggle at times with mental health difficulties. And I stand by that message. The evidence is clear and conclusive….

• Connecting with nature helps to reduce stress, anxiety and depression
• Walking in a natural environment reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain responsible for those repetitive thoughts that focus on negative emotions
• Sounds of nature reduce the effects of cortisol, in turn calming our fight or flight response
• What we see in nature helps to distract us from worry and negative thinking
• Being in nature helps us to feel more energised and hopeful
• Touching things like leaves, feeling water from a stream on our hands or digging soil with our hands helps to bring us into the moment and to get away from worry, anxiety and rumination

The above list could go on for many more points and draw from many more studies (I have mostly used a 2018 Harvard Health Care article as my source).

I haven’t even touched on the wonders of watching a plant grow as you nurture it through life!

Getting out and about in nature, finding natural things in urban environments and growing plants on your kitchen windowsill are just some of the (mostly free) ways we can achieve vastly improved mental wellbeing from the natural world.

So what is the problem? There are a couple of examples that spring to mind…..

For people living with highly distressing symptoms, whilst the above applies, it doesn’t feel like an answer in isolation. 

Access to services is also really important – medication, therapy, crisis services, psychiatric and nursing services all play a part in someone’s recovery and nature alone is not a ‘cure all’. With decreasing resources and ever higher thresholds in accessing services, many people feel side-lined and marginalised. Telling them to go for a walk just isn’t good enough.

Then there is the catch-22 of mental health recovery. You know what you should do but you just can’t bring yourself to do it. 

Sometimes, getting dressed is a colossal achievement - and should be celebrated when that is the case.

Well-meaning people telling you to get outdoors and get some fresh air won’t help in this situation – guilt about failure is really common when people are recovering from mental illness. That guilt only adds to the inertia, leading to more feelings of guilt and so on.

Is there a solution? I believe there is.

Firstly, and above all else, be kind to yourself and one another.

Kindness, like nature, is free and powerful. Practise it diligently. 

You’ll find below some tips for connecting with nature more easily. However, nature isn’t going anywhere and there is no rush and no pressure. When you feel able to do these things, fantastic. Meanwhile, keep on being kind to yourself! Please try to observe and celebrate achievements which work for you. Be proud that you are gradually working through this. Be proud that you’re reading this now. Be proud that you got up this morning when you just couldn’t face it. Be proud you answered the phone that one time.

If, and when, you are feeling able and moved to try something, maybe consider the below, but NO PRESSURE! Come to some of these in your own time, or not at all;

• The sounds of nature are very healing. Consider a YouTube video of birdsong or nature sounds without leaving your home.
• Simply looking at the sky or out the window is going to give you all the benefits of connecting with nature. Try to notice all the natural things outside your window – spot some birds, notice some clouds, enjoy daylight.
• If you are able, do go outdoors, but please don’t feel like you have to hike 10 miles through the forest! Just sitting on your doorstep will give you a connection to the outside world that will help you to feel just a little bit better.
• See if you can order a plant to be delivered to your home and then enjoy looking at it, watering it and spending time with it, I would encourage you, if you feel up to it, to visit Mayfield Nurseries. It’s such a special, tranquil place – regardless of whether you buy plants or not.

Finally, I want to give you assurance that if you reach out to Mayfield Nurseries Wellbeing programme for help, we will hear you and we will do all we can to help you as quickly as possible. As part of Solent Mind, we can also advise you on all the services in your area and help you get in contact. We are here for you.

I wish you all better mental wellbeing and please never give up hope – it will get better.

Do please reach out to us if you have any great tips for connecting with nature when going out isn’t the easiest thing to do, and please know that whenever we extol the virtues of connecting with nature, and we will, we also know it isn’t the whole story for all of you.