How connecting with nature, and facing up to eco anxiety, can help our mental health
This Mental Health Awareness Week, naturalist, TV presenter and author Chris Packham is encouraging more people to connect with nature.
We've been checking out his new children’s book Nature is the Answer: A Toolkit for Eco Positivity, which encourages young people to build hope, curiosity and emotional resilience through their relationship with the natural world.
Nature is right there, wherever you are
"Nature has an extraordinary ability to support our mental health," says Chris. "It offers space to slow down, reflect and feel connected to something bigger than ourselves. You don’t need to travel far or know the names of everything you see; nature is right there, wherever you are, from a tree on the street to birdsong outside your window. Helping children and adults build a positive relationship with the natural world can bring comfort, confidence and a sense of hope, which feels more important than ever at a time when many people are struggling with their mental health.”
Empowerment, action and connection
In Nature is the Answer, Chris speaks directly to young readers about eco anxiety, mental health and feeling overwhelmed by global challenges.
“Nature is the Answer is a manifesto for change for young readers, " he says. "It portrays - in really simple terms - some of the problems they're likely to face when it comes to thinking about and dealing with climate breakdown and bio-diversity loss.
"It helps young readers by providing clear opportunities to confront what has the potential to feel like overwhelming problems and offers practical advice with techniques to help manage their eco-anxiety and mental health. Importantly it's about empowerment so that they realise that they can play a very positive role in their own future.”
Chris also highlights how action and shared purpose can support mental wellbeing:
“We're essentially saying to young readers that we know activism is empowering. It makes you feel good. You feel more alive and worthwhile in the moment when you’re doing something. Standing up, and standing for something, using your voice, connecting with a cause and connecting with others and taking back control helps individual people and the wider world. It creates its own energy.”
Taking action for good mental health
During Mental Health Awareness Week, we are encouraging everyone to take action for good mental health by reconnecting with nature in ways that work for them. Whether it is noticing nature on your doorstep, spending time outdoors with others, or finding a quiet moment to listen and reflect, these actions can help build resilience, comfort and hope.
Nature is not a solution to every problem, but it can be a powerful and accessible support. This week, and beyond, let nature be part of how you look after your mental health.
Nature is all around us
Getting out in nature is one of the most popular actions for mental health for people across the UK. Our March 2026 polling revealed that one in three 30% UK adults spend time in nature to support their mental health.
Research shows that connecting with nature can reduce stress, improve mood and help ease feelings of anxiety and low mood. Nature gives us space to pause, reset and gain perspective, which is especially important when life feels busy or overwhelming.
Nature is all around us
Connecting with nature does not have to mean travelling far or doing anything complicated. Nature exists wherever we are. It might be a local park, a tree-lined street, a garden, a river, or simply the sky above us. Even short moments spent noticing nature can support our mental health.
Simple actions can make a difference, such as:
- taking a short walk outdoors
- sitting outside and noticing what you can see and hear
- listening to birdsong through an open window
- caring for plants indoors or outdoors
- spending time with others in green or blue spaces
These everyday connections can help us slow down, feel grounded and remind us that we are part of something bigger.
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