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There’s
ample evidence that two of the best things you can do for your mental health
are giving back and spending time in nature.
The U.K.’s Our Bright Future project combined both. The program involved more
than 128,000 people aged 11 to 24, who helped improve 3,000 community spaces
and create 350 natural areas throughout the country.
The results are remarkable: 95% of participants said they felt more confident
after taking part, and 86% said it improved their mental health.
About two in three also said it bolstered their belief that they could make a
difference.
The Wildlife Trusts, an alliance of 46 independent wildlife conservation
charities in the U.K., led the project, which was funded by the national
lottery. “Access to nature has a profound effect not only on young people’s
environmental awareness but also on their physical and mental wellbeing,”
Mya-Rose Craig, a Wildlife Trusts ambassador, told The Guardian.
“I
hope others recognize that there is a huge appetite among young people to
work towards a better future for us all.”
Besides improved health and well-being, the thousands of participants
received valuable skills they could use to find gainful employment. Several
have since started their own businesses or social enterprises, including one
creative participant who’s making jewelry out of beach litter.
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