LYPFT Healthy Living Adviser blogs on the benefits of getting outdoors in nature

One of our healthy living advisers blogs for Mental Health Awareness Week

Mark De Wolf, a Healthy Living Adviser, talks about what the Healthy Living Service has done to support our service users over the last year and what they hope to re-introduce as the lockdown eases up.

“Our opportunities to support service users to get outdoors and into nature have been more limited than ever over the last year. But there’s not a day goes by that I don’t have a conversation with our service users about how soothing, restorative and invigorating being outside is. Often just a breath of cool fresh air is enough to elicit a sigh of relief.

“During the last year since we’ve been unable to leave the grounds our inpatients have used the natural spaces we have daily. Above all else we’ve supported and encouraged service users to walk.  Some walk fast some more slowly, we go clockwise, anti-clockwise and up and down. Most say ”it’s easier to talk when we’re walking” and more than one service user likes to sing when they get outside. We’ve watched the daily progress of a pair of magpies building their nest and some service users have tracked the progress they’ve made during their admission with the emerging buds, leaves and flowers of Spring.

“Then there are the joggers, who go round and round and round. More than a few  people had “forgotten how much they love to run outside” and with encouragement they started again. More than one 10km run has been completed in the grounds of the Becklin Centre. There’s also been badminton, boxing and football outside.

“But for some “just sitting on the grass has been enough to lift my mood”.

“We’re looking forward to getting further afield with our service users. All the things we’re used to doing and miss; near daily walking groups in parks and nature reserves from all in-patient units, trips out by bicycle from Asket Croft and the Newsam Centre and  five-a-side football for example.

“I don’t think anyone ever regrets getting outside and into some greenery.”

Find out more about the work of the Healthy Living Service on their website page.

The Healthy Living Service offers support that can help people to improve their physical health. The service focuses on our acute inpatient services in Leeds and includes dietitians, physiotherapists, a health improvement specialist and a team of healthy living advisers. The Healthy Living Service provides specific assessment and interventions to improve physical health. They support service users to access community resources to support their ongoing health and wellbeing.

Our healthy living advisers are qualified exercise professionals and support a range of physical activity for service users. They also offer behaviour change interventions and advice in four priority areas – physical activity, healthy eating, smoking cessation, and sensible alcohol use.