Throughout this week we have been supporting Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 by considering the different ways Naturism promotes good mental health. On this, the final day we look at the aspect that many might consider the most important, namely the principles upon which Naturism is based. Naturism is about respect, respect for ourselves and respect for others. It is founded upon family values, the belief that we should support one another, make EVERYBODY feel welcome and ensure that nobody is left to suffer. Part of the family values approach involves supporting youth, and the mental health issues faced by young people are why this is the most important.
One in five young women aged 16-24 self-harm, a number that has tripled over a 15-year period (The Lancet Psychiatry). Suicide is the leading cause of death in men aged 20-34, accounting for over a quarter of fatalities (Office of National Statistics). Body confidence among young people has deteriorated over time, with 5.6% of women aged 17-19 suffering Body Dysmorphic Disorder (NHS).
23% of 16–24-year-olds describe themselves as Naturist or nudist and over half have participated in activities such as skinny dipping, nude sunbathing or visiting a Naturist beach/resort. Speaking to those people at events, we continually hear about the confidence and peace they find in the Naturist environment and the benefits it has for their mental health.
If you are one of the group suffering traumatic mental health issues, do please try joining the group that has tried Naturism. We can’t guarantee that it will fix all your problems, but accepting doing something different could be the first step to a better life.