Healthy Thoughts - Our Blog

Dan Beaumont's recent triumph in completing the Denis Rankin Round on March 30th and 31st was not just a remarkable athletic feat; it was a testament to the power of endurance, resilience, and community spirit. Covering the majestic terrain of the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland, Dan completed the gruelling challenge in an impressive 21 hours and 29 minutes, showcasing not only his physical prowess but also his dedication to promoting positive mental health. The Denis Rankin Round, named after the pioneering hillwalker Denis Rankin, is a demanding 90-kilometer circuit that involves scaling 39 summits with a total ascent of over 6,000 meters. Dan's journey through this breathtaking landscape, marked by stunning vistas and rugged trails, encapsulates the beauty and serenity of outdoor exploration. This remarkable achievement by Dan Beaumont is part of his broader mission to raise awareness and funds for mental health initiatives. Supporting the charity Mind Over Mountains , Dan's efforts aim to help individuals facing mental health challenges through the therapeutic power of nature. Visit his fundraising campaign to learn more, contribute towards this cause and make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. Having already conquered the Bob Graham Round in the Lake District, England, Dan is now setting his sights on the Paddy Buckley Round in Snowdonia, Wales, and The Charlie Ramsay Round in Lochaber, Scotland. Each endeavour serves as a testament to Dan's commitment to mental health advocacy and his determination to demonstrate the boundaries of human potential. Despite facing challenging weather conditions, with cold temperatures and strong winds, Dan was supported every step of the way by a dedicated team of volunteers and local supporters, many from Positive Steps Outdoors. From helping him to plan his route in advance, to providing sustenance and encouragement along the journey and running legs with him the community rallied behind Dan to ensure his success. All of this was captured by the film crew that accompanied Dan with the resulting movie to be showcased at the Kendal Mountain Festival in Nov 24. This collaborative effort not only exemplifies the spirit of camaraderie but also reflects the principles of mental well-being outlined by the Public Health Agency's " Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing " initiative. By engaging in physical activity, connecting with others, taking notice of the beauty around us, learning new skills, and giving back to the community, Dan's Denis Rankin Round attempt embodies each of these pillars of well-being. As Dan Beaumont continues his inspiring journey, he not only conquers mountains but also raises hope and awareness for mental health, proving that with determination and support, anything is possible.

In today's fast-paced world, where stress and anxiety often seem unavoidable, finding effective interventions for mental well-being is crucial. Enter the Outdoor Mental Health Interventions Model (OMHIM) from the Institute for Outdoor Learning, a ground breaking approach that harnesses the healing power of nature to promote mental health through outdoor activities. Research consistently shows the positive impact of spending time in nature on mental well-being. Whether it's a leisurely stroll in the park, immersion in a forest or a hike in the mountains, nature has a unique ability to calm the mind and soothe the soul. The OMHIM takes this idea further by providing a structured framework for using outdoor activities as therapeutic interventions. At the core of the OMHIM is the Therapeutic Confidence and Outdoor Confidence Model. This model emphasizes the importance of the right mix of therapeutic skills and outdoor activities. Therapeutic confidence refers to the ability to facilitate meaningful therapeutic experiences, while outdoor confidence relates outdoor skills and abilities. By bolstering both types of confidence, practitioners and participants can feel more empowered to engage in outdoor mental health interventions effectively.

It’s January 2024 and the time of year the people set New Year’s resolutions, with research by YouGov suggesting in the region of a third of young people and 16% of the total population will seek to do so. The most popular resolutions are to do more exercise and improve fitness, save money, lose weight, and improve diet. Interestingly perhaps there is quite a drop (50% or so) in popularity for the next tier of resolutions which include less time of social media, career ambitions, a new hobby, more time with family and friends and volunteering or charity work (although it may be people feel they have the last two already sorted). Least popular by quite a way are giving up smoking and cutting down drinking (that says something about the stress coping mechanisms people resort to in modern life). How people stick to the resolutions is also an interesting picture. About 31% of those that made resolutions claim to have kept them all, 50% say they have kept some of them but only 16% confess to having failed in all (what the missing 3% think is anyone’s guess). It’s always dispiriting when you set goals and life gets in the way. That’s why it’s critical to think about how you want to live and experience the year ahead in a way that prioritises what’s important to you. Rather than undermining confidence by setting goals you may struggle to keep, especially if they reflect the perceived expectations of others or society at large (extrinsic factors), build your self-esteem by focusing on meeting your intrinsic needs. A simple step to take is to seek to apply, as often as you can in your daily life throughout the year, the advice of the Public Health Agency’s Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing initiative. The simple five steps are designed to improve health and well-being and can be more about how you approach things you are already doing. They are: Connect : Connect with the people around you: family, friends, colleagues and neighbours at home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these relationships as the cornerstones of your life and spend time developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day. Be active : Go for a walk or run, cycle, play a game, garden or dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity that you enjoy; one that suits your level of mobility and fitness. Take notice : Stop, pause, or take a moment to look around you. What can you see, feel, smell or even taste? Look for beautiful, new, unusual or extraordinary things in your everyday life and think about how that makes you feel. Keep learning : Don’t be afraid to try something new, rediscover an old hobby or sign up for a course. Take on a different responsibility, fix a bike, learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun to do. Give : Do something nice for a friend or stranger, thank someone, smile, volunteer your time or consider joining a community group. Look out as well as in. Seeing yourself and your happiness linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and will create connections with the people around you. Positive Steps Outdoors will soon be publicising a programme of walks in the natural environment, with mindfulness techniques-based coaching included, for this Spring and Summer. We are happy to admit that the construct of our events is very much based on delivering the five steps above. So why not join one of our events where you will get to connect with people, be active in stunning locations, take notice of the flora and fauna and keep learning about the environment and history. You can even choose to volunteer with us and on some walks, through a partnership with charities, we are able to support others to give something back.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt Throughout my life I have faced challenges, planned and unpanned, that honestly, I was not particularly sure would work out. Embarking on these challenges was often a triumph of hope over experience. From working in challenging environments, to starting a company, or getting involved with ultra-mountain running events in my forties and more recently starting a social enterprise there has been one constant. That constant has been the power of a good idea underpinned by the generosity of strangers leading to friendship and community. It is fair to say that I failed on occasion but where I did achieve a modicum of success it was most assuredly due to the support of others, often people I met only after I stepped out on the journey. The overarching lessons from these experiences are that truly meaningful endeavours are worth the attempt whatever occurs, trust people and believe in creating serendipity (making yourself and others lucky). I’ve benefited innumerably from this philosophy and only been significantly let down once by it, and even that in the long run was resolved by further application of the philosophy. As the founder of @positive steps outdoors, a social enterprise connecting people to the outdoors and each other to promote positive mental health, I was supported and encouraged through the generosity of @chriss ross (from @mckees) and @roger warnock (CEO of @young social innovators). Those initial introductions developed into a friendship that has generated the good idea to support positive mental health within young people on the island of Ireland and to enable them to drive social innovation through their own youth led solutions to social issues (@roger Warnock takes the credit here). Chris, Roger and I hope to harness the power of community to raise funds to support young people through sponsorship of our, perhaps foolhardy, attempt to run the Cape Wrath Ultra race in May 24. This race is 400 kilometres long, involves 10,000 m of climb and takes place over eight days through the remotest parts of Northwest Scotland. There is no guarantee of success with two out of three attempts failing. What really excites me about this opportunity is the unknown. There are the obvious unknows, namely, can the ‘three amigos’, perhaps a little bit past their physical prime and with a lot of other pressures, keep to the necessary training regime to get ready for the event and remain injury free; on the event can each sustain the pace and mental rigour required to cover the distance inside the cut-off times over eight consecutive days; can we manage the navigation and administration required and cope with the weather, bogs, streams and famous midges; how well will we work as a team; and, will people actually back us or simply think us crazy (adopting both attitudes is fine by the way). We know, through evidence, the generosity of others in supporting young people changes lives and improves communities. So, the ‘unknown’ that excites me the most is precisely how this will be realised because of this initiative. There are young people out there who we do not yet know that stand to have improved mental health because of the support of strangers. The benefits of that improved mental health will be seen in their lives and in the lives of their families and friends into the generations. That enhanced sense of wellbeing will mean those young people will opt to dare greatly in worthy causes, making real the ideas, yet unknown, they have for improving the fabric of their communities through social innovation. Those ideas, with the support of @young social innovators, will be well placed to succeed through this fundraising, meaning communities yet unknow will benefit, creating opportunities for serendipity to play out into the (unknow) future. Just as with the Cape Wrath Ultra the success of young people as they ‘dare greatly’ in their ‘worthy causes’ may not be 100% guaranteed but that’s the case with all challenges worth doing. However, the generosity of strangers coupled with the power of community will greatly improve the odds. In the end not starting at all is the only option with an assured and knowable outcome for these young people. So, here is your chance to ‘dare greatly’ alongside us and the young people. Sponsor the ‘three amigos’ as an individual or a company using our Just Giving page. Yes, the outcome is unknown but that is what makes it exhilarating and, in any case, as life has taught me, I believe you should be prepared to be excited and rewarded by what unfolds, known or not, as result of your generosity. https://lnkd.in/eRNAbpWw By supporting this initiative, you and the people you care about (staff, clients etc) can also get directly involved, for example volunteering on programmes for young people you have helped fund, providing 'mental health' focused hikes for your staff or simply joining us on a training run some morning.

The bedrock upon which modern economies are built is that of using surpluses to invest capital so that more surpluses can be generated. The ‘capitalist’ doctrine (or is it a religion) mandates that these new surpluses are reinvested into the economy through the purchase of further goods and services or the buying of shares so that increasingly more value is derived. In this way the pie gets bigger, so the theory goes, and everyone is a winner (reality suggests the theory may have some holes). The reinvestment of surpluses might occur after a little self-indulgence by the owners, you know the odd family holiday or super yacht depending on the scale of the returns. What is not acceptable, as it undermines the very capitalist principle, is to spend all the surpluses on bling or lock it all up in a bank to look at. If you doubt this just look at the history of paintings. During the 15th and 16th Century Spanish nobles were painted for public display wearing fine furs, bedecked in jewels, surrounded by chests of doubloons with gold ornaments on ivory tables and ostentatious hats and homes on display, as well as exotic servants or hunting dogs. They did this as culturally it epitomised success. By the late 17th Century Spain was on the decline, soon to vanish as a global player, while Dutch merchants, very much on the up, were painted wearing simple black and white clothes and sat at rustic tables with ledger books open, perhaps with the family in the background engaged in some wholesome activity. They did this as culturally it epitomised success. Just try to imagine someone like Bill Gates having a life size portrait on public display of himself dressed in multi-coloured silks and furs surrounded by gold and silver ornaments and wearing a flamboyant hat covered in jewels. Hard, isn’t it? Perhaps this proves the cultural longevity of the Dutch approach to PR. So, what has all of this to do with social value? We’ll there is a economic cultural change underway, of which the foundation Bill Gates and his wife started is a good example. This change in doctrine emphasises a broader understanding of value, which makes sense really when you think about it. The desire to see all value as monetary in nature has led to the all-powerful concept of GDP. This unitary measure of value means it’s possible to show growth / improvement (the blessing of strict adherence to the ‘capitalist’ faith) by destroying the natural environment or increasing climate change. Thankfully social value provides us with a different view of how the world can be. It places a value on engaging people so that the impact of decisions being made on them can be understood. The aim of social value is to achieve marginal gains across many initiatives that ultimately, when combined, add up to considerably improved net positive impact on the lives of individuals, the communities they are part of and the fabric of society itself. There is an increasing awareness of the significance of measuring social value to better appreciate the importance of the marginal gains in wellbeing that can be experienced by people and to use this knowledge to inform better decision making. Recognising this, along with the need to ‘guide’ the market, many countries have adopted social value legislation. Such legislation typically requires that prior to embarking on the procurement of goods or services the public sector, and its supply chain, consider how the procurement process and eventual supply can secure wider social, economic and environmental benefits for communities. This is very much to be welcomed as “by changing the way we account for value, we believe that we will end up with a world with better wellbeing and more equality for all” (1). Let’s look forward to paintings of the wealthy of the future highlighting the individuals and communities that, through their success, have benefited from improved wellbeing because of the universal adoption of social value principles. Positive Steps Outdoors is a registered social value broker. We work with companies to help innovate and deliver their social value offering. Get in touch to see how we can help you too. 1. Social Value UK – www.socialvalueuk.org

As well as a positive approach to promoting wellbeing within the workforce many employees, and potential employees, view how organisations take positive action to address climate change and raise environmental awareness as a major motivational factor. Recent research has shown that over 90% of employees felt that how their employers approach the challenge of climate change was fundamental to their sense of wellbeing and levels of motivation, and vital to the future success and prosperity of the organisation. Employees are aware of the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDG), which require organisations to demonstrate how they are helping to advance sustainable development , including by aligning to SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing covering mental and physical health) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). However, research shows that many employees (over 60%) are unclear on their organisation’s climate change commitments or indeed the actions being taken to meet those commitments. Within millennials and younger workers there is a growing trend of ‘climate quitting’, whereby staff opt to find employment with organisations they perceive to have better environmentally credentials . Many (close to 50%) expect their employer to have a clear and tangible commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues while a substantial minority (20%) have not taken up an offer of employment as they felt the employer’s ESG stance did not align their own personal values. It seems clear therefore that in these times of restricted labour markets organisation can’t afford to ignore how their environmental and climate change credential are viewed by their staff and the wider the labour market if they want to attract and retain the best talent, particularly in the younger demographic. A vital component of any effective environmental programme is that it has the buy in and active support of staff, requiring targeted efforts to raise awareness of the challenges as well as the actions being taken to manage them. For engagement programmes to be more than tokens their design must be based on a clear appreciation of the levels of climate and environmental knowledge held by staff and the employees’ own environmental goals. Employees need to not only understand the facts of climate change but be able to translate those into the implications for themselves and the employer organisation as well as their local environment and communities. With support and the wherewithal to act, they will be better placed to work together to inform the future of their organisations and communities. When it comes to raising awareness of the environment and climate change, while at the same time demonstrating meaningful commitment to these pressing issues, taking a hands-on approach is key. Providing the space to purposefully engage with the outdoors while learning about the geology, flora, fauna and history of areas local to employees is a fantastic way to bring environmental awareness ‘alive’ and at the same time make the message of climate change impacts more individually pertinent. Done well such engagements enable people to connect with their outdoor destinations, to see the impacts of human induced climate change on their doorstep and go some way to personalising the imperative to work together to support climate action. They can also offer the chance to volunteer to support environmental focused projects, with the consequential benefits from such ‘giving’ including boosted self-esteem and feelings enhanced wellbeing. When planning programmes that aim to raise climate change awareness and promote active engagement with environmental initiatives be sure to include time for people to immerse themselves in their local natural environments, to learn about the fragility of those environments and to better appreciate the necessity to act collectively to protect them.

Across the UK 41 % of employees have experienced poor mental health where work was a contributing factor, 51 % of poor mental health caused by work was due to pressure and some 300,000 people lose their jobs each year because of long term mental health problems. Reporting also shows that men are more likely to keep work-related mental health problems to themselves and that whilst employees feel supported by colleagues and managers, they do not always feel HR departments and CEOs and boards are as considerate of employee mental wellbeing. 62% of managers said that, at times, they have had to put the interest of the organisation above the wellbeing of their colleagues. It is projected that as a percentage of the total number of instances of poor health at work, mental health problems will soon surpass other work‐related illnesses such as musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory diseases, cancer, skin issues, and hearing damage. Research shows there is a large annual cost to employers in the UK of mental ill health of between £33 billion and £42 billion. Over half of the cost coming from presenteeism, when individuals are less productive due to poor mental health in work, with additional costs from sickness absence and staff turnover. UK average costs per employee are £1,716 and £1,652 for the public sector and private sector respectively, with higher costs again per employee in sectors such as finance, insurance and real estate. More positively the estimated return on investment of workplace mental health interventions by employers is £5 for every £1 invested, with interventions that achieve even higher returns (up to 11:1) tending to combine a focus on prevention and building employee resilience with organisation wide initiatives supporting large numbers of employees and using tailored support for those most at risk. Also, positively the number of employees who feel that their organisation supports their mental health is on the rise, indicating greater awareness of the issues and increased efficacy of the efforts to address them. The COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a catalyst to elevate mental health on a parity with physical health, leading to growing rates of adoption of the Mental Health at Work Commitment alongside the Mental Health Charter. The continued popularity of the Investors in People award, which emphasises the link between employee mental wellbeing and business productivity, alongside the more recent publication of BS7600O Valuing People, the first of a new suite of human capital management standards, also highlight the continuing evolution in the collective expectation of what employers should do to support the mental health of their workers. Consequently, the CIPD People Managers’ Guide to Mental Health recommends as part of building individual resilience that employers lead by example and adopt the NHS five steps to mental well-being, namely Connect with other people, Be Physically Active, Learn a New Skill, Give to others and Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness). Many organisations are now finding that actively providing for mental health, and doing so in a way that incorporates the NHS five steps, is increasingly part of the ‘employee value proposition (EPV)’, vital for recruiting and retaining quality and loyal staff. The difficulties in securing and maintaining appropriate staffing levels is a significant issue that has had a spotlight shone on it throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Many organisations continue to experience employee shortages, something compounded by the ‘great resignation’. In summary business are experiencing higher costs and reduced efficiency due to employee mental health issues, and employees increasingly expect their employers to have active mental and physical health initiatives in place, with direct implications on talent recruitment and retention. There is a need therefore for organisations to implement bespoke programmes of purposeful activities, that are integrated within wider initiatives and aligned with the NHS five steps to mental well-being, to promote tangible, measurable and sustainable improvements to mental and physical health.

On the 19 May 23 Positive Steps Outdoors held our first ‘Green Therapy’ day at the Ormeau Baths Belfast, Northern Ireland. The event has generated a healthy level of interest in exploring green therapy and how Positive Steps Outdoors can support organisations. This ranges from local health trusts seeking to help people get into walking to combat isolation, charities / community groups helping the disadvantaged, carers, or those with mental health needs to local businesses wanting to support staff while increasing their attractiveness to the labour market and corporates looking to do likewise while also innovating their social value proposition. The seminar has enabled us to grow our pool of great outdoor event leaders and make and foster new partnerships, some of which we never anticipated. As a result, we have developed the central service supporting positive mental and physical health along with wider 'wrap around' options, including: • Mindfulness, T'a Chi and Chi Kung to enhance connectedness. • Environmental, flora, fauna, and climate (sustainability goals) awareness. • Giving back through supporting our partnership with outdoor charities or other social enterprises. • Learning about geology, history, culture, leave no trace or navigation. • Coaching and strategizing on the move to strengthen individuals and teams and solve problems. • Building team cohesion, leadership and culture cover and our team coaching capability as well as what we provide by way of planning, event leadership and safety and loan equipment. Also, our relationship with the Alpkit Foundation , who support us through their fantastic Continuum Programme, has enabled us to build a great loan store of equipment, from footwear to bobble hats, with trousers, fleeces and waterproof jackets in between. The morning seminar saw close to 100 leaders and representatives from community groups, charities, the public sector (including health), local businesses, leading sports bodies and multi-national corporates attend to learn about the mental and physical health challenges faced by individuals, organisations and society and the role of natural therapy in supporting positive mental and physical health. The audience was welcomed by Positive Steps Outdoors’ patron two time world champion boxer Carl Frampton, who posed for a lot of photos and took part in a Q&A. Carl was asked about his BBC documentary " Men in Crisis " which sets out the current epidemic of mental ill health in Northern Ireland. If you have not seen it, you should watch it. Carl was followed by speakers from Aware NI , talking about mental health, Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, covering physical health, British Mountain Medicine Society covering the efficacy of green therapy and The Wellbeing Pathway , with some real life case studies of how green therapy has helped people. Our director Alan then highlighted how we can support organisations to promote positive physical and mental fitness in cooperation with Mourne Heritage Trust and Belfast Hills Partnership . After grabbing the packed lunches delegates headed out for an enjoyable hike on Divis and Black Mountain care of the National Trust and supported by Mountain Leaders from the Mountain Training Association .

In our last blog we considered the evidence that backs the value to mental and physical health of green (or blue) / nature therapy. So, if getting outdoors is proven to have physical and mental health benefits how many of us stand to gain from some self-care spent outdoors in nature? That is how big is the problem of mental and physical health challenges faced by individuals, communities and businesses? During this year's Mental Health Awareness Week we thought it opportune to look at this. Mental Heath Northern Ireland has the highest prevalence of mental health problems in the UK, with 25% higher levels of psychiatric morbidity as well as higher rates of anxiety and depression in the child and youth population . Around a fifth (19%) of the adult population had a high General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) score indicating a possible mental health problem. There has been a yearly increase in the prevalence rate for mental health and depression since 2013/14, with the legacy of violence and socio-economic factors frequently cited as key contributor to poor mental. Since the pandemic individuals have felt more disconnected from community and less able to avail of support, especially in relation to protecting their mental and physical health. Those most at risk of mental health concerns prior to the pandemic experience the greatest impact, those in need materially before lockdowns have seen inequalities increase and those more likely to have required support need just as much if not greater levels of flexible engagement now. Physical Heath Most females and people with disabilities, and close to 40% of men, in Northern Ireland may not be meeting the guidelines for physical activity, and children in Northern Ireland have the lowest rate of physical activity in the UK. Females 16 years and older are less likely to take part in sport than males, with overall participation declining in all adults with age so that those 45 and over are less likely to have participated in any sport within the last year. Adults living in the most deprived areas are also less likely to have participated in sport within the previous year than those living in the least deprived areas. Those adults who do take part in physical activity cite improved physical and mental health benefits, with over half of adults walking for recreation (not classed as sport) within the previous year, with a higher proportion of females (59%) than males (50%) doing so. Positively the proportion of adults who had walked for recreation increased from 28% in 2011/12 to a peak of 49% in 2019/20. Addressing the Challenges There are plans to help address the situation. The Northern Ireland Mental Health strategy 2021 – 2031 seeks to address the state of mental health in the community, with theme 1 Promoting mental wellbeing, resilience and good mental health across society addressing support available to individuals, families and communities and working with partners, including social prescribing, to encourage and support mental wellbeing and positive mental health. This theme stipulates the need to provide green spaces and opportunities for exercise, leisure activity, social interaction, volunteering and tackling loneliness. Aligned to this the Public Health Agency’s Take 5 initiative promotes the following five simple steps to improve wellbeing, Connect (build relationships with others), Be Active (discover a physical activity you enjoy), Take Notice (be mindful of what is around you), Keep Learning (try something new) and Give (do something for others). Conclusion There is a pressing need to support communities as they seek to redress the impacts on mental and physical health arising from years of conflict, social deprivation, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Communities require cost effective solutions tailored to their needs and that have practical and sustainable wellbeing benefits. This is where the low cost and positive impact of green (or blue) / nature therapy comes into its own. That is not to say that a day out in a forest or in the hills will resolve all of life’s challenges, of course not. Nonetheless walking in some of our iconic locations with colleagues, friends or strangers can be more than just a day out. Done well such events can directly deliver on at least four of the five simple steps to improve wellbeing under the Take 5 initiative, five if the individual helps someone else while on the walk and is a practical way to deliver on the Mental Health strategy. Let’s get behind nature therapy as one of the practical tools in the box to help improve lives.