Mental Health Outdoors

Sip attended a British Mountaineering Council (BMC) coordinated Mental Health in the Outdoors seminar this weekend, held at the National Outdoor Centre in Plas-y-Brenin. There were opportunities to complete mental health first aid refreshers and gain insight and understanding on numerous other related topics such as safeguarding, anxiety and management strategies, and climbing alongside mental health to name a few.

All the presentations were delivered by experts or very experienced presenters in each field, with great opportunities to share experience and knowledge. There have been a number of opportunities that have subsequently arose for collaborative working in the future with amazing charities such as Blackdog Outdoors and CAM (climb alongside mental health). At Extreme Outdoors we are not here to directly fix anyone, we are not clinical professionals, but we will remain non-judgemental, offer an open hand to support everyone, and most of all listen to individual’s needs.

In between lessons Sip even managed a speed ascent of Moel Siabod (872m) approximately 8 kilometres in the mist, rain and dark, out and back in just over 2 hours. It was just like the IML speed navigation test all over again. During the weekend he took the opportunity to read some pretty appropriate books whilst enjoying van-life for three days. Grounded by Ruth Allen and In the Mountains by Ned Morgan are recommended and fantastic reads. See a few photos from the weekend below and please contact us should you need any help, or just someone to talk to.