Meals can heal the mind
CELEBRITY COOK JULIE GOODWIN TEAMS WITH BEYOND BLUE TO SHOW GOOD HEALTH IS NOT JUST ON THE PLATE
For celebrity cook Julie Goodwin, teaming up with Beyond Blue as an ambassador this year was a no-brainer. “I was keen to partner with a charity that helps people who are experiencing mental health issues, especially after going through that myself,” the original MasterChef Australia winner says.
“I know how hard it is to reach out and to talk, and I also know for many people that financial constraints can be a barrier to seeking help. Beyond Blue provides a free service to all Australians, 24/7, and I think that is extraordinary.”
The Beyond Blue Support Service has seen an 18 per cent spike in demand for its free-of-charge counselling services over the past 12 months by Australians experiencing mental health concerns. The organisation says 45 per cent of people throughout the country have experienced mental health conditions in their lifetime, but a continued stigma around mental health issues often prevents them from seeking help.
An avid cook and baker, Goodwin was a natural choice to front this year’s Mental Health Month campaign, which also marks the organisation’s first dedicated fundraiser. Throughout the month of October, Beyond Blue has been rolling out the Big Blue Table initiative and is calling on Australians to get together for a chat over a meal.
“Just the act of getting together to share a meal, has proven mental health benefit,” says Goodwin. “It doesn’t have to be big or fancy (although it can be, if you like), it can be as simple as a pot luck dinner or afternoon tea.”
The mental health benefits of community and social interaction have long been documented, which is why Beyond Blue is encouraging Aussies to register for its free Big Blue Table host pack, which contains a series of ‘get to know you’ conversation-starter cards ranging from ice-breakers to more difficult conversation starters.
The campaign’s objectives are simple, says Goodwin. “Gather people together to foster community and open the lines of communication about mental health, and by doing so, (you’re) reducing the stigma around this particular topic; and, raising funds to ensure that the Beyond Blue Support Service can continue to be freely available to all Australians.”
As well as opening up the lines of communication, getting together over a meal could have a substantial preventative impact on mental wellbeing, Goodwin believes.
“Isolation is a well-known contributor to ill mental health … it’s not always easy to get the family together around the dinner table every night with everyone’s different work and social commitments. But I do believe that when it’s possible, it’s wonderful, for mental health and for family and community life.”