To mark World Mental Health Day (WMHD), the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust World Mental Health Day (WMHD) Events Committee is organising four ‘Mind, Body and Stroll’ events across the Trust area. There will be four short walks taking place onxa0Saturday 5 October at 10.30am.xa0 These events are open to everyone – individuals, families and groups.
[caption id="attachment_42257" align="alignright" width="300"]
Ready fro WMHD are Liam McLernon, Niamh Wallace, Natalie Killough, Shirley Poxon, Jim Darragh, Joan Scott, Barbara Coffey, Claire Wilshaw and Sarah Teer.[/caption]The meeting points for the walks are:
1.xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0 Crawfordsburn Country Park, Visitors Centre
2.xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0 Kiltonga Christian Centre, Ards
3.xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0 Lisburn Towpath, Civic Arts Centre
4.xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0xa0 Newcastle Promenade, Newcastle Centre
In a recent article on the BBC website, it was said that just five minutes of exercise in a “green space”, such as a park, can boost mental health. There is growing evidence that combining activities such as walking or cycling with nature boosts well-being. In the latest analysis, UK researchers looked at evidence from 1,250 people in 10 studies and found fast improvements in mood and self-esteem.
Walking is accessible to almost everyone and doesn’t cost any money. In recent years there has been a large increase in the number of walking groups available locally for all ages.
Natalie Killough, Chairperson for the WMHD events committee said “Walking and mental health are so closely related, especially group walking.xa0 The friendships and social connections people make when they walk, alongside the physical and mental health benefits, make this event truly exciting.xa0 I really hope that people who come along find that they want to learn more about walking in their community and that this is just the first step in them taking part in group walking in the future.”
For further details please contact Natalie Killough on (028) 9250 1375 or emailnatalie.killough@setrust.
The WMHD events committee is a partnership group with members from South Eastern HSC Trust, Northern Ireland Association of Mental Health, Action Mental Health, Mindwise and the four District Councils – North Down, Ards, Lisburn and Down.
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