Stepping outside the monotony of everyday life and taking time to connect with nature is proven to be both beneficial and key to maintaining good mental health.
This was the idea behind the MINDing the Gap Green Passport initiative, which launched last Thursday.
The MINDing the Gap project team was started by Heidi Twining, Caitlin Baker and Kathryn Maddox in the Fairley Leadership Program after they realised there was a gap in the support strategies both before and after accessing clinician-based mental health interventions within the region.
One of these gaps was the provision of resources that showed people how they could connect with nature to improve mental wellbeing.
The Green Passport is a pamphlet that showcases four regional walks in the Goulburn Valley, detailing access points, suitability for different fitness levels and if the area is dog-friendly.
“There is an inherent value in getting out in nature, and a key aspiration in the development of the MINDing the Gap project and Green Passport will make it easier for people to connect with nature and experience the therapeutic value of being in the outdoors,” Ms Twining said.
“All three of us have been exposed to the mental health care system and experienced some gaps. So, this path is just a small contribution that we can make back to our community where we see there is a gap, and we wanted to do something that was tangible, beneficial, achievable and nature-based.”
Ms Twining’s partner, Luke Bryan, is a former police officer who has struggled with his mental health since retiring from the force. Ms Twining, a police officer herself, and Mr Bryan understand how overwhelming dealing with a mental health illness can be and how something as simple as the Green Passport can be helpful in this space.
“Luke's lived experience speaks into something simple, tangible and it's more likely to be utilised. So, trying to just keep it really simplistic in design and delivery to get that to people is key,” Ms Twining said.
“This is a living, walking example of how something as simple as this can give you a purpose. Sometimes when you battle with mental health, you need that affirmation and drive, and this would be a good starting point,” Mr Bryan said.
The Green Passport will be available across the mental health facilities at GV Health as well as headspace, and a digital copy is also available on the GV Health website.