Wednesday 14th May | Societat Naturista
🌿 What Is Mental Health Awareness Week?
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event, taking place from 12 to 18 May 2025, dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and promoting mental well-being for all.
Organised by the Mental Health Foundation, the week provides an opportunity to reflect on mental health, spark conversations, and support those experiencing mental health challenges.
👉 Check out it out further here: Mental Health UK
Each year, a specific theme is chosen to focus attention on aspects of mental health. In 2025, the theme is 'Community', highlighting the vital role that connections and support networks play in our mental well-being. Being part of a supportive community can provide a sense of belonging, reduce feelings of isolation, and offer practical and emotional assistance during difficult times.
And that brings us to naturism.
We often talk about naturism in individual terms so during Mental Health Awareness Week— but let´s focus in the positive mental health benefits, such as, reducing anxiety and and the strong connections it builds i.e., community.
"I used to suffer from crippling depression. Naturism helped me feel like I belonged, like I wasn’t broken. It genuinely saved my life."
— Anonymous BN member, British Naturism submission to Parliament
📖 Source: [UK Parliament Written Evidence - British Naturism (2020)]
"Spending time naked in a social setting improves body image, self-esteem, and overall wellbeing."
— Dr. Keon West, Goldsmiths, University of London
📖 Source: Study funded by British Naturism (2017)
Let’s Talk Benefits of Naturism
Improved Body Image and Self-Esteem
Naturism helps break down the hyper-critical, social media perpetuated lens of ideal body types that we often attribute to others and then use to criticise ourselves.
In naturist settings/organisations/events, you will see normal bodies— aged, bald, tattooed and scarred. Not filtered, posed, or marketed to sell you gym courses or the newest fashion item. This can have a profound effect on everyone's body image.
Reduced Anxiety and Stress
Clothing can restrict movement, airflow, and even skin temperature regulation. Combine that with the calming effects of nature, and naturism becomes a full-body nervous system regulator.
Which in turn helps with:
Lowering blood pressure
Decreasing cortisol
Calming breathing and heart rate
Lowering body temperature
Getting more vitamin D
“Taking some quiet time to reflect in natural surroundings using all your senses can be a real boost to your mental health. Whether you’re relaxing in the garden or on your way to work, try listening out for birdsong, look for bees and butterflies, or notice the movement of the clouds. All of these good things in nature can help you to find a sense of calm and joy.” — MentalHealth.org.uk
More Serotonin and Dopamine = Better Mood
We need exposure to daylight and nature for healthy neurotransmitter function. Naturism ensures full-body light exposure, especially in morning hours, which supports:
Better serotonin production (for mood stability)
Boosted dopamine (motivation and reward)
Reduced risk of SAD and low mood
You Actually Feel Less Alone
Loneliness and isolation are major mental health risks. Naturism offers a surprisingly fast remedy: people. From our own experiences it has provided:
Authentic connections and conversations with people we may have never met, due to age, location and interests
Less performative socialising; more engagement and emotion
More emotional safety
"Our survey results show that naturism helps people feel more confident, less anxious in social settings, and significantly happier overall.” — British Naturism "Does Naturism Help Your Mental Health?"
Mindfulness Without Trying So Hard
You don’t need an app to feel present. You just need to be unclothed and outdoors. “Naturists consistently describe increased bodily awareness, present-moment focus, and emotional grounding as key outcomes of naturist practice.” — GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, "Exposing perceptions and beliefs towards naturism: A qualitative exploration of personal narratives"
Better Sleep (Yes, Really)
Naturist practice supports circadian rhythm by exposing your skin and eyes to natural light and reducing sensory overstimulation in the evenings. As well as, lowering body temperature for sounder sleep.
So all in all, Naturism can help. If nothing else but body postivity, stress, calmness and community.
🧠 Mental Health Awareness Week 2025: Celebrating Community
This year, Mental Health Awareness Week focuses on a powerful theme: Community—something naturism understands better than most.
At the core of it, naturism is about belonging. In naturist spaces, people connect without pretense—no labels, no filters, no expectations. Just people, as they are. And that creates a kind of community that’s deeply supportive and profoundly good for our mental health.
Many who practise naturism speak openly about the positive impact it’s had on their self-esteem, body image, and sense of connection and community.
