S3 E3: Connecting with nature to support our mental health

What is the Mental Health Foundation Podcast?This is the Mental Health Foundation podcast. A series which brings to you a range of mental health topics, real life stories, expert comments, and mental health tips.

Jennie Walker is your new producer and host. She has her own lived experience of mental health problems and with this podcast she and the Mental Health Foundation want to raise awareness, get people talking and provide support and hope.

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On today’s episode Jennie talks to you about how connecting with nature can support our mental health.

We recorded this episode in April 2021, after a full year of different lockdowns during the Coronavirus pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, many people turned to nature to help manage their mental health – whether that was a walk down the street, a swim in the sea, a run in the countryside, or nurturing a house plant.

On the show, Jennie speaks to some people about their relationships with nature, and how connecting with nature has supported their own mental health. We have Kas, a 23-year-old from London, Jamie Hamill who is a Personal Trainer from Edinburgh, and Becky who is a 47-year-old from Newcastle. We finish with Dr Chiara Lombardo and Jolie Goodman, talking about the research behind the positive benefits of nature for our mental health, and how we’ve been applying them in some of our programmes at the Mental Health Foundation…Enjoy the show!

Who’s on the show today?
Jennie Walker: Host, Producer and Podcast Editor, Communications and Marketing Officer at the Foundation
Kas: Guest, 23-year-old from London
Jamie Hamill: Guest, Personal Trainer from Edinburgh
Becky: Guest, 47-year-old from Newcastle
Dr Chiara Lombardo: Guest, Senior Research Officer at the Foundation Chiara’s Bio: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/about-us/people/chiara-lombardo 
Jolie Goodman: Guest, Programmes Manager for Empowerment & Later LifeJolie’s Bio: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/people/jolie-goodman 

Podcast episode links:
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/nature/nature-research https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/tips
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/thriving-with-nature https://www.wwt.org.uk/our-work/projects/blue-prescriptions/ Find out more about the 

Mental Health Foundation:
Website: mentalhealth.org.uk
Instagram: instagram.com/mentalhealthfoundation
Facebook: facebook.com/mentalhealthfoundation
Twitter: twitter.com/mentalhealth
Get in touch with us: online@mentalhealth.org.uk

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Helplines:
If you are feeling like ending your life, please call 999 or go to A&E and ask for the contact of the nearest crisis resolution team. These are teams of mental health care professionals who work with people in severe distress.

If you need someone to talk to then Samaritans are available on 116 123 (UK) for free, 24/7. They are there to talk to, listen and they won't judge or tell you what to do.