Has lockdown got you down? How walking in nature saved a depressed British pub manager’s life
- Jake Tyler had decided to end his life, but a timely call to his mother brought him home, where he started going out for walks
- Rejuvenated, he set out to hike around Britain – a life-changing journey he now shares as a mental health advocate. He even met Prince Harry along the way
People in Hong Kong are enduring yet another lockdown in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic, and for many it is depressing.
An uplifting escape is at their doorsteps: 300 kilometres of nature trails and country parks that criss-cross the city. Briton Jake Tyler’s story highlights the power of reconnecting with nature.
In March 2016, a week before his 30th birthday, Tyler, who was suffering from anxiety and depression, came close to committing suicide. The great outdoors was the tonic he needed to help him rediscover a zest for life.
Three months after he had been ready to end his life, he embarked on a 3,000-mile (4,800km) walk circumnavigating Britain along coastal paths, over mountains and through national parks.
I had just needed to remember what it was like to feel alive
Tyler shared his life-changing journey in his book, A Walk From The Wild. He is now a mental health advocate, has been featured on BBC television and is a TEDx speaker. His TED talk I’m Fine has had 3.5 million views.
