By Aaron Cordy
NATURE is a healing force that the modern world, crammed with technology, has forgotten. Recent studies have shown that reconnection with nature has significant benefits to mental health, especially in young people who are most vulnerable in the social media and AI age.
Research conducted by the Nature Scripts program, a partnership between the People & Parks Foundation, University of Melbourne and headspace Shepparton, has planted the seed for Nature Neighbours.
Co-designed with young people and paying respect to First Nations principles of wellbeing & reciprocity, Nature Neighbours offers people aged 12 to 25 a chance to connect with themselves and others in a judgment-free space in different natural environments.
Loz from headspace Shepparton and Tones from Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project are facilitating the nature activities, with the aim of making it truly about the participants’ needs.
“Everything that young people in the community have shared with us, like Axel, who is part of our Youth Advisory Committee, is they want to have more spaces to do fun things together with other young people. Being out in nature is a really powerful way of healing that works better for some people, as opposed to just talk-based therapy,” said Loz.
“We’ve done some nature journaling with RiverConnect before. We’ve collaborated with awesome local groups like Find Your Feathers and Landcare to do activities such as nature-connection games and learn about the land. I think the biggest thing is often bringing in play too. Whether it is sometimes like an epic open hide and seek or treasure hunts, we all feel better after being outside together.”
Nature Neighbours has been possible with the support of a grant from La Trobe University’s Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research.
Nature Neighbours runs on Thursday nights for 12 to 17-year-olds from 4pm to 5.30pm one week, or alternate weeks for 18 to 25-year-olds from 5.30pm to 7pm. For more information call headspace Shepparton on (03) 5823 8800 and ask for Loz. To register your interest at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/MSv7Tfu0s7 for 18 to 25 years or https://forms.office.com/r/vEaaT5ACzu for 12 to 17 years.
