Stop complaining about the British rain! Downpours can make us happy and have ‘therapeutic effects’ on depression, claims expert

As a nation, we love to complain about the weather.

But with April showers approaching, we should embrace the rain and even go outside when it rains, research suggests.

Studies have shown that rain makes us happy and improves our mental health thanks to the molecules released into the atmosphere.

The molecules – called “negative ions” – may even have “therapeutic effects on depression”, according to BBC naturalist Matt Gaw.

Writing in Countryfile magazine, he said: “Walking, running and swimming in the rain – whether it’s a heat storm, a downpour, a downpour on the Cumbrian rocks or a drizzle – showed me that, contrary to cultural tropes, there is little sadness in the rain.

“In fact, it seems the opposite to me. There is a lightness, a joy in experiencing something fundamental in the world.

“It’s a sentiment backed by science. Because when the clouds break, there is something other than water in the air.

“Negative ions are atmospheric molecules charged with electricity. They are most abundant near rivers, beaches and mountains, where air molecules are broken up by moving water.

“They are found near crashing waves, near waterfalls and they are also there when it rains.

“These negative ions, which are inhaled and transferred to the blood and brain, have been associated with biochemical changes that have a positive impact on mental health.”

Previous studies have shown that negative ions may have therapeutic effects on depression.

“In short, while we may associate rainy weather with gloom, darkness and misery, being out in the rain can actually improve our mood,” Mr Gaw added.

The Met Office has warned that the four-day Easter bank holiday weekend could be a disaster, just weeks after England experienced its wettest 18 months since records began.