Charity appeal for mental health programs

BENDIGO Health’s Move for Mental Health fundraising campaign is off and running for another year, with proceeds to go towards providing local mental health patients access to specialised exercise, art and wellbeing programs.

Bendigo Health manager of mental health and wellbeing service transformation Cilla Boucher said specialised programs where patients are able to get out and about are a proven form of treatment.

“When care is provided in a place where the patient can make the decisions about where that happens, it’s better for everybody rather than being in a clinical setting, for sure,” she said.

“Where services are able to provide more holistic treatment, whether it’s through a gym or fishing or golf, absolutely they should be able to do that.

“Programs such as this work because they’re local, and place-based initiatives are where it should be happening.”

Since 2020 the Move for Mental Health initiative has raised $300,000, which has allowed the hospital to establish an on-site gym, provide various therapeutic tools, and purchase a patient transport bus to support mental health patients across the region.

Move for Mental Health ambassador Emily Jackson is an exhibitor at Aligning Perceptions – An Exhibition for Mental Health at Dudley House. She said the art program was essential.

“It’s absolutely life-changing,” she said. “You can just be yourself. You don’t have to pretend to be okay, and everyone knows that if you’re having a rough day, you can still participate.

“It can make a world of difference for people and it can also help to keep people outside of inpatient facilities.

“It’s been brilliant.”

Community members can participate in the fundraising drive by registering for a Move for Mental Health virtual fitness challenge on the Bendigo Health website.