Hawkesbury City Council will host a special ‘Green Health Zone’ for local young people in October as part of Mental Health Month. It will be funded by a grant from the Way Ahead Mental Health Association NSW to promote the importance of early intervention practices for positive mental health and wellbeing.
As part of the campaign, Council is encouraging local youth to get involved in Mental Health Month by coming to The Green Health Zone at Clarendon Skate Park on Friday, 7 October from 11am to 3pm, to be held in conjunction with the YMCA NSW Skate Park League Competition and Festival on the same day.
Council is a major sponsor of the YMCA NSW SkatePark League and Festival for 12 to 25 year olds. The competition event includes free activities, free food, free entertainment and a free shuttle bus from various areas in the Hawkesbury including Freemans Reach, North Richmond, Bligh Park and more. YMCA NSW and Hawkesbury City Council are proud to be official partners of the NSW SkatePark League. For more information on the NSW SkatePark League, visit www.skatepark.ymca.org.au or like the League on Facebook or Instagram at SkateParkLeagues.
The Green Health Zone will be a Gazebo-style ‘hang-out’ that will incorporate mental health activities, small workshops, games, information and giveaways from the Council and Headspace Penrith – Castle Hill.
Council hopes the Green Health Zone will promote mental health awareness, help reduce the stigma around mental illness, and encourage help-seeking behaviours.
To connect with the theme ‘Learn & Grow’, giveaways will include plants such as ornamental natives and vegetables to create an analogy between plant-care and self-care because ‘spending a little time and effort to take care of your plants’ can be related to taking care of your mental health.
There will be space to sit and review information and receive prizes for participation. The focus of the event will be on relaxation and mental wellness.
For more information about Mental Health Month, visit https://mentalhealthmonth.wayahead.org.au.
