Two of our members told ITV News viewers about the benefits of counselling and outdoor therapy during a segment on Mental Health Awareness Week.
The theme of this year鈥檚 Mental Health Awareness Week is nature and the environment.
Clare Cox, who runs outdoor therapy sessions, and Jacqui Cheetham, a student counsellor who鈥檚 experienced outdoor therapy as a client, were interviewed live by presenter Nina Hossain on Monday鈥檚 ITV Lunchtime News.
Outdoor therapy
Clare said: 鈥淥utdoor therapy offers a safe alternative to working online and face-to-face.
鈥淕etting outside and connecting with nature can improve conditions like anxiety and depression, and can improve self-esteem.鈥�
Jacqui said: 鈥淚 love the outdoors and nature has a wonderful way of helping me to feel comfortable and relaxed as I engage with my therapist, as I relate to her.
鈥淚f I think about conversations I鈥檝e had with friends and family over the years often it鈥檚 while walking that you can have the most open conversations and build trust and build relationships.
鈥淚 think the natural world has an enormous amount to offer within therapy 鈥� definitely I鈥檒l be continuing (after restrictions ease),鈥� she added.
Our members Jacqui Cheetham (left) and Clare Cox (right) discussed outdoor therapy with Nina Hossain (top) on the ITV Lunchtime News
Impact of the pandemic
Claire also referenced figures from our annual Public Perceptions Survey, which examined the impact of the pandemic on people鈥檚 mental health.
She said: 鈥淟ots of people have been affected in different ways by the pandemic. Not everyone is happy to come out of lockdown.
鈥淲e may see an increase in social anxiety and people who are nervous about restrictions lifting.鈥�
The interviews were arranged through our partnership with the media 聽23red media agency. We鈥檙e working the agency to increase our PR efforts to raise awareness of how counselling and psychotherapy can change lives and to drive people to 麻豆原创 to find qualified therapists.
Meanwhile, Hadyn Williams, our Chief Executive, Fiona Ballantine Dykes, our Deputy Chief Executive, Kris Ambler, our Workforce Lead, and Mark Fudge, Chair of our Universities and Colleges division, were quoted in about how to access therapy in lockdown.
Hadyn said: 鈥淭he mental health consequences of this pandemic will affect many people for a long time, and it鈥檚 vital that they can access therapy when they need it.鈥�
Mental Health Awareness Week 2021
This year鈥檚 theme was nature, and our members shared their thoughts on the impact of nature on mental health and wellbeing through a series of blogs
75% of people say their mental health has been impacted by the pandemic
Not seeing friends and family, isolation and worries about catching the virus among main reasons, our survey found
Our members in the media
A round-up of where our members have been talking in the media about counselling and its benefits