Dr Lucy Loveday in The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Credit: Lorna @heligangardens

James Michael Forrest, aka ‘Mountain Man’

Dr Lucy Loveday: The wild swimming GP who is championing mental wellbeing in the outdoors

Has the outdoors ever helped your mental health? Wondered why? Listen on to find out!

My guest in this episode is Dr Lucy Loveday.

Lucy is a GP and medical educationalist, fell runner and wild swimmer who lives on Dartmoor.

Dr Lucy Loveday: The wild swimming GP who is championing mental wellbeing in the outdoors

Has the outdoors ever helped your mental health? Wondered why? Listen on to find out!

Dr Lucy Loveday in Dartmoor

Her life is focused on the benefits of nature for mental wellbeing. And through her work as a doctor, she’s developed evidence-based Wellbeing Toolkits and a green prescription to show how nature can help mental health. She’s also the founder of Movement and the Mind – a conference exploring the connection between mind, body and planet.

Lucy Loveday wild swimming in Dartmoor

The outdoors has played a pivotal role throughout Lucy and her family’s life, most importantly because of her father’s struggles with severe depression.

She’s determined to spread the message about why if you get moving outdoors in nature, the benefits to your mental wellbeing can be profound.

Lucy Loveday with her father

I hope you enjoy the podcast and don’t forget to listen out for Lucy’s wonderful tips and advice for bringing nature and the outdoors into your life, as well as the special sounds of nature at the end of this podcast episode.

You’ll find Lucy on Instagram @drlucyloveday

If would be fantastic if you could spread the word about the podcast to your family and friends and rate, review and subscribe to the podcast to help other people discover it.

Thanks!

Liv x

If you have been affected by any of the issues in the podcast episode, there is more information and support in the links below:

Mind – the mental health charity

NHS – mental health

The Samaritans

Childline

Young Minds – children and young people’s mental health charity

Lucy Loveday fell running on Dartmoor

This episode of The Outdoors Fix was kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell.

Merrell is launching a year-long campaign called #StepFurther to encourage people from all walks of life to get outdoors on a micro-adventure to experience the benefits for both their physical and mental health.