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Feel better outside, feel better inside
Posted Saturday 29 October 2011
Mind, the leading mental health charity, is calling for people to get outside to guard against winter blues and to improve mental health.
Celebrity gardener Rachel de Thame is supporting the Mind campaign to raise awareness of how easily we can all protect our mental wellbeing for a happier autumn and winter.
Many of us feel a dip in mood and our enthusiasm wane as autumn hits. This is especially pertinent when the clocks go back on 30 October, with research showing this is largely due to a reduction in sunlight.
Our internal patterns of sleep and appetite, sex drive, temperature, mood and activity rely on natural light cycles so, as the UK sees hours of daylight diminish form 17 in mid June to just eight in December, we can all be affected.
Many people feel low, eat and sleep more, and feel less inclined to get out and socialise with friends or go to work.
Outdoor exercise, or ecotherapy, increases exposure to sunlight and can positively impact our mood – in fact research shows outdoor exercise can be as effective as antidepressants in treating mild to moderate depression and anxiety1.
Rachel de Thame, celebrity gardener and Gardeners’ World presenter is supporting Mind’s campaign this autumn/winter, to raise awareness of the positive impact of outdoor exercise.
Rachel de Thame said:
The garden is a sanctuary for me, it provides fresh air, a place to get away from the pressures of everyday life, and an opportunity to take a step back and appreciate the world around us. Whether in your back garden, local park, or even helping out at a local school or community centre, outdoor spaces are available to us all.
At this time of year it is vital that we all take advantage of the therapeutic effects of the great outdoors and look after our own mental wellbeing. As winter approaches, I will definitely be out rain or shine and hope you too will give it a go.
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind said:
We all know that our moods can sink in autumn and the clocks going back is a real reminder of the dark days to come. However by simply getting outdoors we can all help ourselves in strengthening our mental resilience.
Exercise will increase physical fitness, improving self confidence. Many of us also tend to eat more in winter, especially comfort foods - which can cause weight gain, leading to reduced self esteem and loss of energy. Increasing exercise levels will help to maintain a healthy lifestyle and in turn increase mental wellbeing. Activities with friends or an organised group such as one of Minds’ Ecominds projects can also help to lift our mood as support networks can be important when we're feeling low.
Whether going for a lengthy bike ride, a quick jog round the local park or just time pottering the garden, I encourage everyone to step outside and find something they enjoy this winter.
To coax people outside this autumn, Mind has developed information and ideas, showing how ecotherapy can easily be built into our daily lives, hosted at www.mind.org.uk/ecominds.
Mind runs a £7.5 million grant scheme on behalf of the Big Lottery, providing130 outdoor exercise projects across England, involving people with mental health problems in local environmental projects that improve confidence and self-esteem.
Projects range from horticultural and agricultural activities through to walking groups and the regeneration of local parks – encouraging people to enjoy and benefit from nature and green spaces in their local community.