Oxford City Council is marking Mental Health Awareness Week by encouraging residents to #ConnectWithNature.
Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is a national campaign hosted by the Mental Health Foundation that takes place between Monday 10 and Sunday 16 May. The campaign encourages participants to start conversations about their mental health and what they can do to improve it.
This year’s MHAW theme is nature. Spending time outdoors, whether to exercise, talk with friends or clear your head after a long workday, can improve your mood and reduce stress levels.
To mark MHAW, Oxford City Council will be showcasing the ways residents can connect with nature via the GO Active Outdoors online resources.
The GO Active Outdoors website provides all the information you need to get moving outside. This includes:
- Walking maps, routes and treasure trails
- Cycle routes and guides for Oxfordshire
- Activities to do as a family
- Outdoor volunteering opportunities
- Outdoor physical activity sessions
- Access to Oxford-based sports facilities including tennis courts and fit trails
- Routes and activities to complete in Oxford’s green spaces and waterways
Oxford City Council will also highlight the mental health charities and support systems available to residents. This includes Oxme, Restore, Response, Oxfordshire Mind and the Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership.
If you want to get involved with the MHAW conversation, you can use the hashtags #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and #ConnectWithNature on social media.
For more information on green spaces and outdoor activities near you visit the GO Active Outdoors website. For more information on Mental Health Awareness Week and how you can get involved, visit the Mental Health Foundation website.
“Our GO Active Outdoors resources can help with mental as well as physical health. Oxford has plenty of green spaces and waterside routes for you to enjoy, whether you want a stroll along the canal, to have a game of beach volleyball in Cutteslowe Park or to just admire wildflowers by the stream in Florence Park.
“We’re encouraging people to look after their mental health by getting out in nature and to ask for support if they need help. Being part of the conversation about mental health awareness could help someone you know, so we’re also encouraging people to use the hashtag on social media and share information or experiences themselves. "
Nadeem Murtuja, Executive Director for Communities and Customer at Oxford City Council
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