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Nature and Mental Health

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

How can I overcome barriers?

Many of us with mental health problems face barriers that might stop us from connecting with nature. For example, you might:

  • be unused to spending time in green space and find it uncomfortable or unfamiliar
  • get tired easily, or have difficulty doing physical activities
  • find spending time outside or around other people challenging
  • be worried about costs
  • feel low or unmotivated, or feel unsure if it’s the right time for you to start something new.

Here are some tips and suggestions for you to consider:

  • Start small – for example, try spending just five minutes paying attention to nature in your everyday life, as even small amounts of time can give your wellbeing a boost. (See our information on improving your wellbeing for more tips.)
  • Do things you find relaxing – you might like to sit under a tree, look at the stars or do mindfulness or art activities in natural surroundings. (See our pages on relaxation, mindfulness and   for more tips.)
  • Ask for support – for example, if you feel anxious in new places or social situations, you could ask someone you trust to go with you at first. (See our pages on anxiety problems for more information and support.)
  • Work with your highs and lows – consider which times of day you feel most energised, and when you find things harder. You might want to avoid times of day when side-effects of any medication you take seem to cause more problems for you.

“As someone who’s quite socially anxious, I’ve found it much easier to chat to people and make friends when you have a practical task to do together. You also share your love of nature with fellow volunteers and farmers, so you have easy common ground and there’s never pressure to chat if you don’t feel like it. I’ve got to know some of the best people I’ve ever known whilst delousing chickens and trimming donkey feet – this kind of work is extremely bonding.”

  • Bring nature indoors – if going outside isn’t possible or feels difficult at the moment, you could explore ways of bring nature indoors.
  • Plan ahead – check the weather forecast and think about any equipment you might find useful, like warm or waterproof clothing, sun protection or a map.
  • Look for free swaps or giveaways – for example, you might be able to swap spare seeds with other gardeners at a seed-swap event.
  • Explore our useful contacts page – we’ve gathered together details of many different organisations who might help.
  • Don’t blame yourself if something you’ve tried doesn’t work for you. Managing a mental health problem can be really difficult, especially when you’re not feeling well. There are many other nature ideas you could try, and other options for treatment and support – different things work for different people. (Our pages on   could help you explore more options.)

Hospitals and green space

While some hospitals have gardens, these aren’t always well- maintained or available to use. If you’re staying in hospital, you could ask staff if there’s a garden you can access.

“I volunteer with a local city farm. At first I was really nervous and my anxiety was sky high but I slowly built confidence. I made friends, I  learnt new skills and I thoroughly enjoyed being active and outside. Attending regularly built structure in my week and became something to look forward to. Volunteering gives my life purpose and meaning, which – whilst not being well enough to work right now – is vitally important for my recovery, as well as helping build a sense of hope for the future.”

“You don’t need to have gardening skills or knowledge to get involved in garden/horticulture projects- just a willingness to get your hands dirty is all you need for a lot of activities … I just love weeding and shovelling compost!”

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

How can I overcome barriers?

How can I overcome barriers?

Many of us with mental health problems face barriers that might stop us from connecting with nature. For example, you might:

  • be unused to spending time in green space and find it uncomfortable or unfamiliar
  • get tired easily, or have difficulty doing physical activities
  • find spending time outside or around other people challenging
  • be worried about costs
  • feel low or unmotivated, or feel unsure if it's the right time for you to start something new.

Here are some tips and suggestions for you to consider:

  • Start small – for example, try spending just five minutes paying attention to nature in your everyday life, as even small amounts of time can give your wellbeing a boost. (See our information on improving your wellbeing for more tips.)
  • Do things you find relaxing – you might like to sit under a tree, look at the stars or do mindfulness or art activities in natural surroundings. (See our pages on relaxation, mindfulness and   for more tips.)
  • Ask for support – for example, if you feel anxious in new places or social situations, you could ask someone you trust to go with you at first. (See our pages on anxiety problems for more information and support.)
  • Work with your highs and lows – consider which times of day you feel most energised, and when you find things harder. You might want to avoid times of day when side-effects of any medication you take seem to cause more problems for you.

“As someone who’s quite socially anxious, I’ve found it much easier to chat to people and make friends when you have a practical task to do together. You also share your love of nature with fellow volunteers and farmers, so you have easy common ground and there’s never pressure to chat if you don’t feel like it. I’ve got to know some of the best people I’ve ever known whilst delousing chickens and trimming donkey feet – this kind of work is extremely bonding.”

  • Bring nature indoors – if going outside isn’t possible or feels difficult at the moment, you could explore ways of bring nature indoors.
  • Plan ahead – check the weather forecast and think about any equipment you might find useful, like warm or waterproof clothing, sun protection or a map.
  • Look for free swaps or giveaways – for example, you might be able to swap spare seeds with other gardeners at a seed-swap event.
  • Explore our useful contacts page – we've gathered together details of many different organisations who might help.
  • Don't blame yourself if something you've tried doesn't work for you. Managing a mental health problem can be really difficult, especially when you're not feeling well. There are many other nature ideas you could try, and other options for treatment and support – different things work for different people. (Our pages on   could help you explore more options.)

Hospitals and green space

While some hospitals have gardens, these aren't always well- maintained or available to use. If you're staying in hospital, you could ask staff if there's a garden you can access.

“I volunteer with a local city farm. At first I was really nervous and my anxiety was sky high but I slowly built confidence. I made friends, I  learnt new skills and I thoroughly enjoyed being active and outside. Attending regularly built structure in my week and became something to look forward to. Volunteering gives my life purpose and meaning, which – whilst not being well enough to work right now – is vitally important for my recovery, as well as helping build a sense of hope for the future.”

“You don’t need to have gardening skills or knowledge to get involved in garden/horticulture projects- just a willingness to get your hands dirty is all you need for a lot of activities ... I just love weeding and shovelling compost!”