LOCALS are being encouraged to connect with nature this week to help improve their mental health.
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.
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The campaign encourages people to start conversations about their mental health and have conversations about what they can do to improve it.
The awareness week’s theme this week is nature, to encourage spending times outdoors as it can help improve individuals mood and reduce stress levels.
The 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
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Nadeem Murtuja, Executive Director for Communities and Customer said: “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. "
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