Awareness. Belonging. Connection.
October 10th is World Mental Health Day.
Poor mental health is a growing issue on our planet. An issue worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time of recovery for the world, looking after your mental health has never been more important.
Having good mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness, it's being able to cope with the stresses of life, having resilience, functioning well in the world, being able to maintain strong relationships with the people around you and most importantly just feeling good.
This year the focus of the annual campaign is Awareness, Belonging and connection. This is a simple call to “Take Care of your mental health, Australia”
Soak up the sun Australia
It's no secret, research has shown that spending time outside or in the garden has positive impacts on our physical and mental health. Being in naturalized spaces or settings and engaging in things such as gardening has a positive impact on our feelings of liveliness and energy, therefore an overall positive effect on our general wellbeing and mental health.
This idea of using gardening to promote better health and wellbeing is called “therapeutic horticulture” and has been around since the 19th century.
So, why is gardening so beneficial to our health? Well, the process can combine social interaction with physical activity and exposure to sunlight and nature. Feeling the dirt between your fingers and connecting with earth is in a literal sense, grounding. Focusing on the task at hand can give you a sense of calm and living in the now. The instant gratification that you can see from the work you do is so satisfying. Creating a beautiful space that you can continue to appreciate after the work is done, will also bring you joy.
The socialisation provided by community gardening projects for those with mental health issues or for people with learning disabilities can counteract the effects of social isolation which is considered to be incredibly harmful to your health and wellbeing.
As you can see, there are so many benefits to gardening!
Get out there Australia, soak up the sun we are so lucky to have.
Getting out there
This year we are inviting you to be aware and present in the moment,
This year we are inviting you to be in the hands of nature and create a space for you,
This year we are inviting you to connect to your world,
This year we are inviting you outside, for mental health.
Resources
If you would like more information or how you can get involved head over to:
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or in serious danger, help is always available.
24/7 support is available:
- Lifeline - 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 www.beyondblue.org.au