Health in Mind: Using the great outdoors to boost your wellbeing

South Downs Way Cuckmere Valley Evidence suggests that our mental wellbeing can be improved simply by being outside – whether exercising, socialising or just taking in the fresh air and sunlight. Amanda Elmes from the South Downs National Park Authority And with modern life becoming increasingly hectic taking the time to get outdoors is more important than ever. In October last year 10 GP surgeries in Scotland, specifically the Shetland Islands, began handing out what they called ‘nature prescriptions’ to patients to help treat mental illness as well as stress, diabetes, heart disease and other conditions. Patients were told to go walking on Shetland’s upland moors and directed towards coastal paths for bird watching. Although the nature prescriptions did not replace conventional medicines, they supplemented normal treatments. For Sue Forber, from local mental health charity Solent Mind, outdoor activity was a good way to boost wellbeing. ‘There’s a lot of evidence to show that getting some exercise, even in small ways, is beneficial for our mental health,’ she said. The South Downs Way spans Winchester to Eastbourne ‘You don’t have to pump iron at the gym or run a marathon – even a 10 minute walk in the fresh air can lighten our moods, reduce anxiety, and increase our energy levels. This is especially true if we can get out into green spaces such as local parks, coastal areas or gardens. For me, walking surrounded by nature is definitely a healing combination.’ Nicole Cornelius, the director of workforce at QA Hospital agreed. She said: ‘I have heard that some doctors do recommend exercise and being outside to help with mental health issues. ‘At QA we know that exercise is really important. We recognise that a lot of our staff, even though they are working hard, do still spend quite […]

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