Connect
Connecting with family, friends, or people in your community, will give you a sense of belonging.
Useful links and resources - 5 ways to wellbeing in nature
Ideas and inspiration
- Check out this month’s ‘Park of the month’ in SA for inspiration on places you could explore in nature.
- 30x30 Nature Challenge
- Nature Play SA
- 30 Days Wild
Interesting research
What’s going on in South Australia?
- Healthy Parks Health People SA – Mental Health Benefits of Contact With Nature
- SA Mental Health Commission – SA Mental Health Strategic Plan
- Office of the Chief Psychiatrist – Suicide Prevention
- SAHMRI – The Wellbeing and Resilience Centre
- SA Conservation Council
- Trees for life SA
- Natural Resource Management Boards
What is Healthy Parks Healthy People SA?
The updated Healthy Parks Healthy People SA framework (PDF 1.35MB) builds on the successes of the original framework, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of the health and environment sectors to help more South Australians benefit from contact with nature; making contact with nature, second nature. It also follows the renewal of the Public Health Partner Authority Agreement between the Department for Health and Wellbeing (DHW), Wellbeing SA and the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), which underpins this partnership approach.
Scientific evidence unequivocally shows that spending time in nature is good for us – it improves our physical and mental health and it has positive effects on our ability to concentrate, learn, solve problems, think critically, and be creative.
We know that not everyone is able to access parks as easily as others. So, we are working together, focusing resources towards implementing innovative approaches to health and wellbeing, to ensure more people can access more parks, more often. This framework is designed to act on the evidence, take advantage of the opportunities and address some of the known barriers to park use, including accessibility.
Videos
5 Ways to Wellbeing
The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are an easy way to improve our mental health and wellbeing no matter where we are or what time it is. The 5 Ways are: connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give. They are simple activities and nature is an ideal place to practice them.
Connect
New to Australia and studying social work, Gwen decided to join a community garden to connect with others. Connecting with family, friends, or people in your community, will give you a sense of belonging.
Be active
Tim, a retiree from Adelaide’s south says being active is his reason for getting up in the morning. Being active and moving your body helps you stay fit and healthy, both mentally and physically.
Take notice
Lynette, a Kaurna Country Elder, always takes time to meditate and take notice of what is around her. Taking notice and slowing down helps you to feel calm and relaxed. Learn to enjoy each moment.
Keep learning
PHD student, Georgia, says nature helps her to concentrate and provides many opportunities to keep learning. Learning new things and challenging your mind will give you a sense of achievement. Learn something new regularly.
Give
Erik volunteers his time to give back to the environment and protect the bush. Give what you can. It can be a simple as your time, your expertise or something from your garden.