Mental Health Awareness Week 2021: Love where you live
Updated: Aug 20, 2021
As we continue to support this week’s #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #ConnectWIthNature campaign, Kate talks about taking care of the environment so that the local community can continue to benefit from nature. She does this by picking up litter, believing that you get out what you put in. Here is her story:
“Mental health Awareness week is a very important calendar event to mark, for us as a family.
We have lots of dear friends who have really suffered with mental health problems since the pandemic started. It has had a shockingly negative impact on young people that we know.
As a family we are so fortunate to have so many beautiful beaches, green spaces and woodland areas on our doorstep in Portishead, North Somerset.
We love making the most of the fresh air opportunities, whenever possible.
If I don't walk my 3 children to and from school each day, I feel low that I haven't had that fresh air opportunity.
To me, it is as important as my morning cuppa.
If I miss it, my mood dips. I need to be outside every day, doing something. Moving around is very important to me. I am always on my feet. I have a standing desk, so I can move around a bit all day.
Having a dog makes us go out as a family for walks, and we all get what we want. The children can run, climb, collect sticks in woodland, build dens and play hide and seek.
On the beach they build rock towers and knock them down, and the dog gets to run around freely in a safe environment. Whilst they are happy, my partner and I can litter pick, which is a passion of all of ours, we love keeping Portishead beaches clean, and our local environment.
We feel we are giving something back and getting so much in return. Plus, we feel it is an important message to instil in our 3 children, that the environment gives us so much, it is only right that we repay this natural gift and treasure our community and environment. You get out, what you put in.
All these things don't cost a penny, it is just a matter of getting motivated and organised. The daily walks were so important to ALL of us during the lockdowns, and throughout the pandemic. Our dog has been our tonic for wellbeing, and for lifting all our moods when we have all struggled at different times, for different reasons.
Love where you live.
Give something back.
Kate, Advocate
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek #MHAW21 #ConnectWithNature #MentalHealth #Advocacy #Nature
