Take steps to help lift mental health
ADVENTURERS will whisk Tasmanians away on hiking, surfing and kayaking trips as part of a new mental health initiative to get people into the great outdoors.
Get Outdoors Tasmania volunteers will be holding a range of free events all over the state on October 9 and 10 to mark the beginning of Mental Health Week.
One of the volunteers is “adventure therapist” Daisy Grodzki, who said being active out in nature is one of the best things you can do for mental health.
“When I moved just over a year ago to Tasmania from The Netherlands, I was actually a little bit sad to find out that most of the young people I see do not have any outdoor-related hobbies.
“Being outdoors is a necessary and integral part of
human health,” she said.
“What I love about Tasmania is that it has the best climate and the most incredible nature for outdoor-related hobbies. Having this as our backyard makes us very fortunate and I really wish for more people to tap into that.”
Another volunteer is health coach Diana McShane, who said there were plenty of ways to get fit and healthy for those who ventured outside.
Her own fitness routine consists of trail running, cycling
and being taken along on walks by her “very active” dog Zoe. “The weekend is really about getting people out in nature, especially those who have very little understanding of what’s available to them in their own backyards.
“More and more research is showing just how important it is to be in nature, both for your physical and mental health.”
The group’s vice-president Tyrone Blyth said they had something for everyone, from 90-year-old bushwalkers to three-year-old mountain bikers.
“Covid-19 has created uncertainty, however we are lucky in Tasmania that we have nature at our doorstep,” Mr Blyth said.
“We would love everyone to open the door and get outside during Get Outdoors Weekend and inspire others to do the same.”
All the events are free and an events calendar can be found on the Get Outdoors Weekend website.