This Mental Health Awareness
Week the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) is launching a photo competition on
the theme of the links between the natural world, and our mental health and
wellbeing.
Mental Health Awareness Week
runs from Monday, 10 May to Sunday, 16 May and is organised by the Mental
Health Foundation. This year’s theme is nature, specifically the link between
being connected with the natural world and better mental health outcomes.
For the MMI competition, which
runs until 30 June, entrants can submit photographs, artwork, creative writing
or any other media on this theme by emailing Lisa Quigley, Mind Matters Manager,
on l.quigley@rcvs.org.uk with a
short explanation about their submission and why nature is important to their
mental health and wellbeing.
Lisa says: “There is a strong
and increasing evidence base that time spent in nature – whether that’s hiking,
gardening, bird-watching or any other activity – has positive outcomes on our
overall mental health and wellbeing by instilling us with a sense of
connectedness.
With restrictions over much of the last year on what we can do and on seeing
our friends and families, the appreciation of nature and its importance for us
has only grown, and so this is a very apt theme for 2021.
“Of course veterinary surgeons
and veterinary nurses are in a very privileged position of working so closely
with the natural world and so I greatly look forward to looking through this
year’s submissions!”
More information about the
Mental Health Foundation’s Mental Health Awareness Week, including an
explanation as to why nature was chosen as this year’s theme, can be found online.
For further details about the
MMI competition, contact Lisa Quigley on the above email address.
