{"id":82,"date":"2023-03-01T15:29:53","date_gmt":"2023-03-01T15:29:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/promomedia.gold.ac.uk\/sng007\/?page_id=82"},"modified":"2023-03-31T15:05:50","modified_gmt":"2023-03-31T14:05:50","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/promomedia.gold.ac.uk\/sng007\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Parks and Barks is the dog meet you didn’t know you NEEDED.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

RSPCA is partnering up with London Royal Parks for the campaign \u2018Parks and Barks\u2019. Multiple dog-meeting events will be held across the eight London Royal Parks every Saturday in May 2023. <\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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How Did It Happen?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since the Covid pandemic, Gen Zs in the UK are chronically online and stuck at home more than usual, often feeling anxious or stressed. 85% of university students reported increased smartphone usage during pandemic and physical stress symptoms, with these numbers worsening since the Covid outbreak, to the point that a public health advisory on the \u2018youth mental health crisis\u2019 had to be issued by US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy in 2021. This goes to show that Gen Z\u2019s physical and mental health has been severely impacted in the last few years. <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

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What Is The Solution?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A great antidote to this phenomenon is exploring nature, as studies show that being outside in nature can lower the stress hormone cortisol, improving both mental and physical health, and regulating mood disturbance. However, despite being one of the most active generations in saving green spaces, their connection with nature drops sharply from the age of 11 and doesn\u2019t recover until they are 30. <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

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What Are We Doing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the Parks and Barks campaign, large dog pens will be set up in these green spaces for \u2018Doggy Destress\u2019 events, allowing young people to sit and play with many of the trained RSPCA rescue dogs and relieve their stress. With the guidance of RSPCA volunteers, dog-walking sessions will also be held where teenagers can have strolls around the parks with dogs, improving the physical health of both humans and animals. <\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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