Brisbane, January 14 (MCCQ Newsdesk)
The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health (QAMH) is collaborating with PCCS, Outdoors Queensland, and ASPIRE to launch a pilot program on the Gold Coast aimed at improving mental health through social prescribing.
This innovative initiative will introduce a dedicated link worker to help connect individuals accessing mental health services with local nature-based activities and community groups. The program seeks to enhance well-being by fostering meaningful connections to both the community and the natural environment.
Chloe Jesson, QAMH Director of Operations, recently met with partners from Outdoors Queensland and PCCS to discuss the next steps following the NATURELINK (Networking Across Teams Using Referrals and Engaging in Link Worker Initiatives for Nature-based Knowledge and Activities) workshop held on the Gold Coast last August. The workshop focused on improving the integration of mental health services with nature-based activities and local community groups.
This pilot program represents a forward-thinking approach to mental health care, emphasizing the positive impact of nature and community engagement on overall well-being.