Popular Wellbeing Program Returns to Lake Mac

Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Associate Professor Doctor Darren Morton at Avondale University

A free, 10-week program, which aims to boost mental health and wellbeing in the community following the challenges brought on by natural disasters and COVID-19, is returning to Lake Mac.

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Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Associate Professor Doctor Darren Morton, who’s leading the ‘Let’s Lift Lake Mac’ project, said he was excited to see the project return in 2022.

“There’s no health without mental health,” Dr Morton said.

“Over the last couple of years, there’s been enormous challenges with regards to mental health support and we know, for example, during lockdown distress more than doubled in communities around Australia.”

Each week, participants will delve into a new topic exploring the benefits of movement, getting out in nature, nutrition, sleep, how to strengthen relationships and more.

Talks, activities and challenges will be held online and in-person, teaching the science behind each strategy and elaborating on how and why it’s mentally beneficial.

“We pride ourselves on using science-based strategies for lifting your mood and your life,” Dr Morton said.

Last year, more than 4000 participants took part in the program, with a final survey finding more than 90 per cent of respondents said it gave them skills to support their mental health and wellbeing in challenging times.

Participants also recorded a 30-40 per cent reduction in feelings of depression, anxiety and stress.

“I like that it gave me a focus to work on improving for the week,” one participant said.

“There was some amazing content in the program and it felt very relevant in these times.”

Lake Macquarie City Council Community Development Officer Emilie Wiggers encouraged residents to take part in the program, which starts on Sunday 18 September 2022.

“This is a great way to bring the community together and boost overall morale,” Ms Wiggers said.

Let’s Lift Lake Mac is a partnership between Lake Macquarie City Council, Avondale University and The Lift Project.

Registrations close on Sunday 2 October 2022.

For more information, head to theliftproject.global/lift/letsliftlakemac