RCVS Mind Matters photo contest takes natural inspiration

RCVS Mind Matters photo contest takes natural inspiration
Earth crystal glass globe ball and growing tree in human hand, flying yellow butterfly on green sunny background. Saving environment, save clean planet, ecology concept. Card for World Earth Day.

Benefits of links to natural world explored in Mental Health Awareness Week

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.

Mind Matters manager Lisa Quigley explained: “There is a strong and increasing evidence base that time spent in nature – whether 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.

Communing with nature is a great way to relax

“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!”

The MMI competition runs until 30 Jun and entrants can submit photographs, artwork, creative writing or any other media on this theme by emailing l.quigley@rcvs.org.uk with a short explanation about their submission and why nature is important to their mental health and wellbeing.

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, visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week