To mark Mental Health Awareness Week (11 May – 17 May) and this year’s theme of ‘Action’, our new Watersports Industry Outreach Ranger, Sophie, shares some thoughts on the connection between coastal environments and wellbeing.
Drawing on her research into how time in nature can support mental health, Sophie reflects on how the Solent’s ‘Blue Spaces’ can benefit us, and how small, mindful actions can help protect the wildlife that depends on them.
The Mental Health Foundation has set ‘Action’ as this year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week, pulling together actions we can take for ourselves, for others, and for all of us.
On the Solent, those actions are often closely linked: choosing to spend time by the water, sharing these experiences with others, and taking care of the coastal environment that supports us all. Spending time near water has been shown to support mental health and wellbeing, helping us feel calmer, more restored, and more connected to the world around us. This idea, often called ‘BlueHealth’, is simply about the benefits we gain from being close to coasts, rivers and seas.
Blue Spaces and mental health – action for yourself
Living on the Solent, we are fortunate to have access to some of the UK’s most beautiful, distinctive and internationally important coastal landscapes. These places are not only home to vital wildlife, but also play a role in supporting our own wellbeing. Research by the World Health Organization has found that coastal environments in particular are associated with benefits for mental health, improved mood, reduced stress, and better physical health, partly through opportunities for outdoor activity.
Research such as Attention Restoration Theory suggests that natural environments help restore our ability to focus, allowing mental fatigue to ease as attention is gently held by surroundings rather than forced.
Alongside this, psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi talks about the notion of ‘flow’ as the state of heightened focus and becoming fully immersed in an activity, when we tend to feel and perform at our best.
While ‘attention restoration’ allows the mind to recover, ‘flow’ draws attention in, creating deep engagement and enjoyment.
Many familiar coastal activities naturally support both processes. For those spending time by the water, these moments can gently restore attention. Activities such as walking along the shoreline, watching birds feeding at low tide, paddling, sailing or swimming can draw us into the present moment – allowing attention to rest on movement, observation and the surrounding environment, while remaining aware of the wildlife that shares these spaces.
When we do spend time on our coastlines, it can be a simple, practical way to support our own wellbeing. For many people, this already fits naturally into everyday routines, offering opportunities to benefit from these landscapes while also being mindful of the wildlife that depends on them.
Blue Spaces and mental health – action for others
Spending time on the coast with others can be a positive action for wellbeing as well as increasing the safety of an activity. The Environment Agency has brought together evidence that links spending time in Blue Spaces and increased opportunity for beneficial social interaction. Sharing these experiences may help time spent outdoors feel safer and more accessible, particularly in quieter or more exposed coastal areas.
For those looking to learn more about the Solent’s landscapes and wildlife, joining one of Bird Aware Solent’s guided walks can be a valuable next step. Guided walks offer the chance to explore these spaces with others, learn more about local birds and seasonal changes, and gain confidence spending time in sensitive coastal habitats – and learn about how we can adapt our behaviour to minimise disturbance to wildlife. To find out how to get involved, visit the events page of our website.
Blue Spaces and mental health – action for all of us
The same coastal spaces that support our wellbeing are also shaped and sustained by the internationally important birds that rely on them. Along the Solent, these shores, mudflats and estuaries form an exceptional natural system, giving birds places to feed, rest and prepare for breeding or migration throughout the year. Spring and summer are especially important for nesting birds, while winter habitats help many species survive when conditions are most challenging.
Understanding how birds use the Solent helps explain why these places matter so much. Even small disturbances can interrupt feeding or use up vital energy, which is why simple guidance can be useful. The Bird Aware Coastal Code brings together practical, easy ways to enjoy the coast responsibly, helping people care for a remarkable landscape while continuing to benefit from time spent by the water.
