'Green Spaces have been a lifeline' - how a Washington park is supporting residents during Mental Health Awareness Week

Friends of Princess Anne Park, in Washington are holding events in the park throughout mental health awareness week, this week, offering support to residents and sharing the value of green spaces to mental health.

Mental health awareness week takes place from May 10-16 and events in the park include community litter picks, walks and a park bioblitz, which records the different types of wildlife in the park using an online app.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown, parks have become more important than ever for people looking for mental relief and Paul Stevens, from Friends of Princess Anne Park, believes green spaces will be key to supporting mental health following on from the pandemic.

He said: “After lockdown people have really come to value the parks and beauty spots we have in our area. For me over the last year Princess Anne Park and other green spaces have been a lifeline.

“People have started to realise what we have on our doorstep and that sort of lifeline doesn’t have to just apply in lockdown it can apply all the time. That’s what we want to promote with these activities. I think it’s really vital to have support and awareness for mental health and things like accessing green spaces can make a massive difference.”

Over the last year, Friends of Princess Anne Park have not been able to hold regular events within the park due to coronavirus restrictions, but now the group are hoping to get back to normal with regular meetings and fun activities.

Paul added: “It’s been a while since we’ve been able to hold any kind of activities in the park but hopefully this is the start of getting back to normal and being able to meet up more often and holding regular events again.”

Mental health awareness week was started 21 years ago by The Mental Health Foundation and has grown to become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally.

To keep up to date with activities from Friends of Princess Anne Park, visit their Facebook page via this link.

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