RESIDENTS in Dorset are being encouraged to connect with nature during this year's Mental Health Awareness Week.
Mental Health Awareness Week runs from May 10 to May 16. This year's theme is nature and the benefits it can have on wellbeing.
Dorset Council has joined the campaign with the aim of inspiring residents and employees in the county to prioritise their mental health and to take time to notice and connect with the natural world around them.
The council will also take to social media to celebrate Dorset's natural environment and encourage its followers to share their photos and videos of nature in the county.
Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment, said: "I'm delighted that nature is the theme of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week - we're lucky to have an abundance of nature on our doorsteps right here in Dorset.
"More than 40 per cent of our county is designated an area of outstanding beauty and our Jurassic coastline is home to England's only natural World Heritage Site.
"From stunning countryside, beautiful beaches and an array of country parks, our unique county offers so many opportunities to calm the mind and help us feel more at ease."
Cllr Laura Miller, Dorset Council portfolio holder for adult social care and health, said: "The coronavirus pandemic and the changes we have had to make to the way we live our lives have placed enormous pressure on us all and for many of us this will have taken a toll on our mental health.
"Enjoying nature is a brilliant way to recover and recuperate from the shock of what we have been through and now, as spring gets into full flow, is a wonderful time of year for people to notice and connect with the natural world.
"For anyone really struggling with their mental health however, there are support services you can access here in Dorset to help you get through the difficulties you are experiencing."
Dorset residents or people visiting the area who need urgent mental health support can call Dorset Healthcare's 24/7 Connection helpline on 0800 652 0190. Connection can also be accessed by calling NHS 111.
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