January 29, 2014, by Helen Whitehead

Sustainability and wellbeing – some links

In this week’s Sustainability Society and You MOOC topic, Organisations and sustainability, participants are invited to share links that they have found relating to several topics. Two of these topics are “sustainability and mental health” and sustainability and exercise”, both of which have prompted people to share some great resources on wellbeing and sustainability. Here are a few of them:

• Good Gym social enterprise
• Yoga, by the NHS
• Connecting with people is one of the 5 positive steps individuals could take towards mental wellbeing.
• This link to the Journal of Counselling Psychology: Depression and Everyday Social Activity, Belonging, and Well-Being also talks about the importance of the ‘feeling of belonging’
• Sustainability and mindfulness (blog post)
• 10 happiness talks by experts in the field.  www.ted.com/playlists/4/what_makes_us_happy.html
• Beauchamp, S. (2009, August). Sleep + sustainability. Retrieved from http://www.pcma.org/convene-content/convene-article/2013/04/11/sleep-sustainability/

Green gyms were a popular share:

• http://www.tcv.org.uk/greengym
• http://www.horshamgreengym.org.uk/ conserves the local habitat and wildlife and creatures /insects to pollinate our fruit trees and crops, and preserves natural waterways = prevents flooding, provides volunteers and participants with exercise in the for of manual labour – improves mood through exercise and form of companionship and purpose builds a sense of community and pride in the local environment.

Also human powered gyms and electricity producing gym equipment:

• Human-Powered Gyms: For Your Health—and the Earth’s
• These new machines should be shared so they are worked many hours a day, not just minutes per day by a single user.
• The human powered vehicle (HPV) movement has spurred international multidisciplinary collaboration via IHPVA -> http://www.ihpva.org/home
• What’s The Value In An Energy-Producing Gym?

There’s a lot of evidence supporting exercise in general:

• This link outlines the benefits and importance of everyday exercise.
• http://www.thebigwheel.org.uk/for-business/active-travel/

Cycling is good for health and the environment…

• From bikeradar.com: 30 reasons to take up cycling
• http://www.sustrans.org.uk/  Sustrans are a UK charity trying to promote heathier and cleaner and safer forms of transport for both getting to and from work and for leisure activities.
• Cycling and health: What’s the evidence?
• http://www.centro.org.uk/sustainability/smart-network-smarter-choices.aspx
• Bikeability also do cycle courses http://bikeability.dft.gov.uk
• Transport Research & Development on cycling and walking
• http://www.bike2workscheme.co.uk/

…As is walking…

• http://www.ramblers.org.uk in England. Promoting walking for health
• http://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/ encourages walking to improve health.
• http://www.sustainablestuff.co.uk has lots of info on walking and cycling.

…and just being outdoors. ‘Ecotherapy’ can reduce depression, gives a sense of well-being, and boost energy levels.

• Natural environment is important for our mental health. Green space, fresh air, sun light, even birdsongs can help us de-stress (http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/newsitem.asp?cate=__13854).
• Ecotherapy & biophilia  Benefits Of Ecotherapy: Being In Nature Fights Depression, Improves Mental Health And Well-Being
• Psychological and mental health benefits from nature and urban greenspaces (PDF)
• From http://www.treehugger.com: Study shows a walk in the park fixes a fuzzy brain
• Happy City: Transforming our lives through urban design by Charles Montgomery. A well-connected, strong and resilient community seems to be key. ‘The message is as surprising as it is hopeful: the green city, the low-carbon city and the happy city are the same place, and we can all help build it.’
• The Guardian on The secrets of the world’s happiest cities
• Living Near Nature Provides Long-Term Mental Health Boost
• a planned decade of health and wellbeing: http://www.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk/index.php

Thanks to all the participants in Sustainability Society and You who shared such interesting and informative links.

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