PRESS RELEASE: My Dorset Mind
PRESS RELEASE: My Dorset Mind brings the outdoors to your home, to help alleviate mental health issues during lockdown
Dorset Mind mental health charity has adapted its support for phone and online delivery, as the current restrictions don’t allow face-to-face interventions. Moreover, Dorset Mind partnered with Crowd to help people struggling with social isolation and the lockdown constraints .
To help alleviate not being able to go outside freely, an online experience was created that allows people the chance to explore some of Dorset’s beautiful locations. The platform created by Crowd offers virtual tours of different Dorset locations to help you relax. During the tours, you’ll see on-screen prompts, inspirational quotes, and animated directions focused on breathing. With the help of Jurassic Coast Trust and Visit Dorset, some breath-taking photography was sourced and then subtly animated by the design team at Crowd, to resemble the original view.
The experience is available for everyone and can be viewed on all mobile devices. You can also view it on Smart TV with your whole family, or have it as a background on your lunch break. It is very easy to use, and we encourage everyone to try it. Simply choose your favourite location, select your preferred sounds, and relax.
My Dorset Mind’s origin
Marianne Storey, Chief Executive of Dorset Mind, says: “We’ve been delighted to work alongside Jamie and his team at Crowd on this exciting virtual project. It was born through an initial conversation where we’d identified anxiety as being the most prevalent mental health concern – amplified by the outbreak for those who were already diagnosed and occurring in those who hadn’t previously been affected.
Mental health affects 1 in 4 people who will have a diagnosed condition in their lifetime. ‘My Dorset Mind’ provides an inventive virtual distraction from lockdown. Mindfulness breathing exercise can help the viewer to feel relaxed whilst focusing on the scenery and sounds of Dorset.”
Mindfulness
Dr Andy Mayers, Dorset Mind’s Patron and Principal Academic at Bournemouth University adds, “Mindfulness is proven method to alleviate symptoms of poor mental health. ‘My Dorset Mind’ brilliantly captures our beautiful Dorset scenery and also uses aids to help the viewer relax. This will really help people at a time when they need it most. I love it.”
Jamie Sergeant, Global CEO at Crowd, says: “We’re grateful to have been part of this great project that will undoubtedly help a lot of people feel better during these challenging times. We hope to further expand this initiative so that other parts of the UK can be explored digitally”.
For those who need mental health support, please visit Dorset Mind’s website. The charity has been helping those in need for over 70 years. Coronavirus and the loss of income for many, has produced a situation where services are needed more than ever.
