This is an important issue, especially as we increase restrictions on parks. Access to green space is crucial for mental health. But we need to share. THREAD. /1
Importantly, we are all still allowed to go for a walk, either alone or with members of our households. Keep your distance, but walk around your neighbourhood. The restrictions are on park amenities, not getting fresh air outdoors. /2
Confinement is a very, very serious source of psychological stress. It is one of the hardest parts of living in a disaster. The fact that this refugee family from Syria is having a hard time keeping children indoors should give you some context. /3
That said, you can get by with a small dose of the outdoors every day. Your brain and body will adjust to your new diet, but you do have to feed it a little bit every day. Even a 10 min jaunt in a park will get you what you need. You just need to see trees & breath air. /4
Be a good team player. If you already have private green space, let other more desperate families have a few minutes of outdoor time in the park. I'm not saying you can't ever use a park. But don't capitalize scarce shared spaces. /5
None of us can use parks the way we normally would right now. Stop thinking about parks as leisure spaces. In this emergency, parks are rationed mental health spaces. We can use them for a few mins each day for sustenance. So don't take more than your family's fair share. /6
Our leaders allowed us some green space in the middle of this pandemic. But they WILL remove that access if we don't cooperate and act as a team. Parks are crucial for mental health, so we MUST protect our rationed green space. Take only your minimal share each day. /x
