Skip to main content

L.L.Bean Goes Off Grid for Mental Health Awareness Month

Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean is going “off the grid” for the month of May in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. Given that study after study shows that time spent outdoors can lower stress hormone levels, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood, the company is encouraging its followers and fans to take time outside to prioritize their mental wellbeing in May.

“Research confirms what we have always felt intuitively: Going outside is critical for our individual and collective well-being,” L.L.Bean’s executive chairman, Shawn Gorman, said.

The landscape of Haleakala National Park in Maui, Hawaii.
Niagara66/Wikimedia (https://bit.ly/3OpMFhK)

On May 2, L.L.Bean pauses posting across all social media channels, wiping its Instagram grid clean in the process. The outdoors gear firm left behind online resources to encourage people to plug into nature with guides, tips, and tools to prioritize self-care. Bean illuminated commitment to this mission with public financial support during May’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

Recommended Videos

In conjunction with this mission, L.L. Bean announced a $500,000 grant and two-year partnership with Mental Health America on April 25. The donation will fund research into outdoors wellness, and help reach people through community-based outdoor programs with multimedia campaigns aimed at creating connection and outdoors inclusion.

May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

Today, @LLBean will stop posting on social media to encourage everyone to spend more time outside and prioritize mental health.🥾

This morning on @newscentermaine, I'll tell you some of the benefits of getting some fresh air.

— Alex Haskell (@AlexHaskellTV) May 2, 2022

“For more than a century, L.L.Bean has helped enable people to get outside, based on the belief that experiences in nature help bring out the best in us,” Gorman said. “We are so enthusiastic to partner with Mental Health America to help more people experience the restorative power of the outdoors in their daily lives.”

L.L.Bean has been providing the necessary threads to outfit outdoors-persons for 110 years, inspiring and enabling people to experience the restorative power of open air. Now the company supplements that work with guides on Explore L.L.Bean that include ways to boost mental wellness, how to ease your mind outside, healthy home breaks, and another way to empower people to prioritize mental health with wild excursions.

For founder Leon Leonwood Bean, Gorman’s great grandfather, being outside was more than a hobby — it was a way to achieve balance through a natural perspective.

“To my mind, hunting and fishing is the big lure that takes us into the great open spaces and teaches us to forget the mean and petty things of life,” Bean said.

Spending time in green spaces, such as a park, a yard, or another natural environment, for as little as two hours per week, has shown to have a significant positive impact on physical health and psychological health.

“Our busy schedules can make it seem impossible to find a few minutes for the outdoors. The good news is that it does not take much to reap the benefits – ten minutes outside here and there will add up over time and lead to better mental health,” Mental Health America’s president Schroeder Stribling said.

For Stribling, any reconnection with creation is a powerful act.

“Even a simple walk outside can lower your risk of depression, strengthen cognitive function, and increase focus. All of these effects improve our mental health and well-being at a time when we need it most.”

Now is the perfect time to embrace being outside as spring offers renewed opportunity to bathe in the living beauty that surrounds us. There are endless ways to get out: take an outdoor lunch, schedule a quick mental health break from work, or go full bore and hike up a mountain and/or dive into a body of cold water. Whatever it is, seize a moment to revitalize and restore in the great, green Earth.

For more motivation, an America the Beautiful annual pass provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by five federal agencies, with up to 100% of pass proceeds used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services. Support or mental health resources along your journey are available at L.L. Bean and explore Mental Health America’s resources at its website.

Learn More

Matthew Denis
Matt Denis is an on-the-go remote multimedia reporter, exploring arts, culture, and the existential in the Pacific Northwest…
This simple camping trick keeps bugs away without harsh chemicals
Looking to keep the bugs away with a natural solution? Try sage
Camping around a fire

Modern chemical bug repellents, while generally safe, can be a great way to keep away those pesky mosquitoes. However, these repellants often contain harsh chemicals, such as DEET, picaridin, and permethrin, which have been known to cause skin irritation risks, poison water sources, or even be toxic to wildlife. The NIH reports that these chemical repellents are not safe for public health and should be used with caution. Natural bug repellents like tea tree oil work great when diluted and sprayed onto skin, but what can you do to keep the bugs away from your campsite? Here's my sage advice for saying "shoo fly, don't bother me."
Use sage to keep the bugs away

Sage is a common herb that acts as a natural bug repellent due to several compounds such as camphor, 8-cineole, and thujone, which produce a strong aroma that repels insects by overwhelming their sensory systems. It has an herbaceous aroma that's both strong and earthy, and can often be slightly peppery or woody in scent. Personally, I find it to be more pleasant than tea tree oil, so it can be a great alternative.

Read more
What type of golf ball should you use? The simple breakdown every new golfer needs
Here are the three major kinds of golf balls and which one is right for you
A golf ball sitting in grass.

When you're just getting started with golf, you may not realize that there are several different kinds of golf balls, each tailored for a specific skill level, swing speed, or other priorities. The choices can be overwhelming, but they boil down to three kinds: two piece, three piece, and four piece. So now you might be wondering, what golf ball should I use? In this guide, we're going to discuss the three major kinds of golf balls and how to choose the best one for you.

When choosing a golf ball, you'll first need to assess your skill level, swing speed, priorities for distance control, materials, and budget. These five factors aren't the only things to consider, but they will get you to a great starting point. The key is to understand the construction and performance characteristics of each golf ball. In a nutshell, two-piece, also known as low-compression balls, prioritize distance and are great for beginners. Three-piece golf balls have better control for more intermediate players, while still giving you great distance. And lastly, the four-piece golf balls, or high-compression balls, are perfect for advanced players for their precision. Here's the breakdown:
Two-piece golf balls

Read more
Stanley 1913 drops limited-edition exclusive at REI, honoring the great outdoors
Carry a reminder of mother nature everywhere you go
Stanley 1913 REI

In partnership with Always With Honor, Stanley 1913 has just dropped a new, limited-edition exclusive cup collection to honor the great outdoors. Taking inspiration from blue valleys and orange skies, this new artist's design allows you to carry a reminder of Mother Nature everywhere you go. From cozy fire-pit gatherings to hiking the trails, this new line-up of Stanley 1913 cups is designed to inspire those who love the great outdoors. Each of the two cup styles/sizes features work by Always With Honor, a studio by Portland-based designers Elsa and Tyler Lang.

The new, limited-edition design is available exclusively at REI stores and online. Just in to help you hydrate on your outdoor summer adventures, these Stanley Quenchers are the perfect companion to take anywhere you go. The artist-designed Stanley is available in two of the most popular models: the 30oz Quencher ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler and the 30oz IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler 2.0. The Flip Straw design features a leakproof flip-straw design for fast hydration.

Read more