Outdoor activities such as gardening, walking and cycling are not only good for your physical health, but can improve your mental health too.
Research shows that those who are more active have a greater sense of wellbeing and have lower rates of depression and anxiety. Even simple activities like taking a stroll in the park, or doing some gentle outdoor exercise can have big benefits for our mental wellbeing.
Improve your mental health by getting outside into nature
Sometimes, getting the motivation to ‘get up and get out’ can be difficult, especially if you’re depressed or feeling low. But making that effort can give your mind a real boost.
- Think about doing some regular outdoor activity and try and make this part of your weekly routine.
- Why not involve others too. Enjoying the great outdoors with friends and family can be a good way of connecting with the people around you and strengthening your social networks.
If you need some inspiration, have some fun and try out our activity picker? We have some great ideas for easy to do activities for the summer holidays.
Enter our nature photo competition
What makes you smile when you’re enjoying the great outdoors? Every month Ecominds will be running a themed photo competition for you to get creative.
You don’t have to be an expert photographer with all the latest equipment: pictures taken on a camera-phone will do fine. This month’s topic is summer holidays. You can enter on our Facebook page.
Need some extra help?
If you are finding it difficult to get the inspiration to be more active the following may be able to help.
Ecominds projects
As part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme, Mind has funded 130 Ecominds projects in England to provide a range outdoor of outdoor green activities for people with mental health problems. Some projects are open to all, others require you to phone up for more information, and some require referrals from your GP.
You can search our map to find a project near you.
Your local Mind
Our network of local Minds across England provide a range of outdoor activities. Many have long-established gardening and horticultural projects; some organise walking and cycling groups, and most offer access to support services and the benefits of users support networks.
You can use this website to search for your local Mind and also find out what type of activities they provide.
http://www.mind.org.uk/ecominds
Phoenix is the editor of this site and was diagnosed with bipolar twenty years ago. In between 8 periods of illness and hospitalisation she trained as a garden designer and was a awarded an RHS Diploma, gained a first class degree in Cultural Studies and a Certificate in Education that enables her to lecture in Recovery in Mental Health to psychiatric nurse students and mental health professionals at universities.
Phoenix leads a diverse life which she attributes to Wellness Recovery Action Planning and all aspects of Recovery. In the last 2 years she performed stand up comedy. Laughter truly is the best medicine! Now she is concentrating on being involved in improving conditions for inpatients and service receivers trustwide. And training in WRAP, Recovery Star and the new Advanced Statement and some gardening for health. Also with some great new art projects. 
