Our Cartridge People… Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event that is now in its 21st year. Set up by The Mental Health Foundation, it is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. Each year the foundation sets the theme and hosts the event, giving people an opportunity to talk about all aspects of mental health with a focus on providing help and advice.

This year the theme is all about connecting with nature. Taking the time to stop and listen. Experience mindfulness within nature as you hear sounds of the birds singing, smell the freshly cut grass, take notice of flowers or animals nearby. Really let your senses experience the natural world. This could be in the countryside, a local park or garden, the coast, lakes and rivers, or even plants or wildlife closer to home. It can also include nature that you can see or interact with inside the home, such as taking care of a house plant. Taking a moment to appreciate these connections with nature can seriously benefit our mental health.

During lockdown, nature really has played a vital part in supporting mental health with many people stating that nature was their favoured way to cope with the stress of the pandemic. We know it has helped some of “Our Cartridge People”. Below are a few photographs some of our employees kindly shared, along with a bit of info to highlight the real benefits of connecting with nature and how it has helped them throughout lockdowns.

Emily Billington – Online Marketing Administrator:

“During the lockdown, the walks have really helped my mental health, fresh air, seeing Maisie my dog enjoying herself and just an escape.”

Nicky Bendall – Senior Online Marketing Executive:

“I’ve always spent a lot of time in nature as i believe it is good for physical and mental wellbeing, but throughout lockdown it has really helped me to combine this with creativity, photographing my artworks whilst on walks with different nature themed backgrounds. Going for bike rides, outdoor swims and Stand-up Paddle boarding at local lakes has really helped me remain positive. Being out in the energy of nature and around trees can really help lift low moods and is a great way to recharge.”

Louise Laurie – Marketing Manager:

“Running has helped me immensely during the pandemic. Being outdoors helps me with anxiety – I’m currently taking part in #milesformind which involves running/ jogging/ walking as many miles as possible in May to raise money for Mind mental health charity.”

Jenny Oakes – Commercial Supervisor:

“This was taken on the round tour hike at Mam Tor. During lockdown, we started to go on hikes as a family just to get out of the house and being able to go to different places and get away from all this covid. It helped everyone’s mental health and be able to forget for a while what was going on in the world.”

Nikki Hale – Customer Service Manager:

“Throughout lockdown it has been tough to want to get up and about somedays, as every day rolls into one. Having my 2 boys has enabled me to keep positive, get fresh air and enjoy what we have always had around us, but never took the time to see. Mental Health is important and we should all use the stunning places around us to help us to appreciate what we have and share them with our friends and family.”

Karen Grogan – Merchandiser:

“Throughout lockdown we went on lots of walks and still are.”

Alison Sparks – Financial Controller:

“This is a picture of my happy place, it’s on Anglesey and I am really grateful that I can get back there, this was taken last weekend. Sitting on the beach with the waves crashing really makes you feel the power of nature and everything else pales into insignificance.”

Clarrie-Anne Cooper – Creative Designer:

“The best remedy when feeling the struggles of lockdown is, for me, to paint or explore the outdoors. Nature is beautiful and walking clears the mind and influences creativity.”

If you would like to get involved, The Mental Health Foundation is encouraging people to share images, videos or even sound recordings of nature on social media using the hashtags #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek. We’ll certainly be sharing Our Cartridge People photo’s in nature on our Instagram.

Why not check out our free printable mental health challenges?