From paddleboarding and beach yoga, litter-picking to educational talks, experience and learn about our waterways, and feel the mental-health benefits that they have to offer.
Dive in from Saturday 19th August to Sunday 17th September!
It’s been proven that blue spaces are really good for us. A 2021 report published by the Mental Health Foundation found that 65% of adults in the UK felt a positive impact on their mental health – reduced stress, anxiety and isolation – from spending time by public waters. One study even suggests that they could save the health-care system £176 million pounds a year!
However, the health of our coastal and inland waterways is in jeopardy, with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’s 2021 Marine Litter Report showing that, on average, 762 items of litter were found per 100 metres of beach surveyed, and that 81% of this contained plastic. Globally, it’s estimated that 170 trillion pieces of plastic – around 2 million tonnes – are floating in the world’s oceans.
We can all show more love to our rivers, loughs, canals and beaches. Let’s make Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds the place to start!
Check out the ways that you can switch off, recharge and enjoy some downtime by our first-rate waterscapes.
Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds events are free of charge, thanks to funding from Belfast Harbour.
Interested in organising an event as part of the series? Get in touch.
To participate in an event, you must register on Eventbrite. Please click the 'View all events' button below. Please note: some events are subject to suitable weather and water-quality conditions. Age restrictions may apply.
Bangor Marina | 19 August | 2pm-5pm
Crawfordsburn | 20 August | 12pm
Kilclief Beach | 20 August | 8am-9am
Cranfield West Beach | 21 August | 2pm-4pm
Wee Beach, Portstewart | 21 August | 2pm-3pm
Carnlough Beach | 23 August | 11am
Cranfield West Beach | 23 August | 10am-11:15am
Newcastle | 24 August | 6pm-8:30pm
Strangford Lough | 26 August
Rams Island | 26 August | 10am-2pm
Newcastle | 29 August | 10am-12:30pm
Creggan Country Park | 30 August | 10am-12pm
Portaferry | 01 September | 10:30am
Murlough Beach | 02 September | 7am
River Bann, Portadown | 03 September | 10am-1:30pm
Murlough Beach | 03 September | 6:30pm-8:30pm
Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds concludes with a series of beach litter-picks on 15-16 September that form part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.
Join a global day of action to #SeatheChange!