Getting outside, movement, nurturing relationships, food and what you focus on are a few of the key things that can give you a boost when you are feeling down.
While Lake Macquarie continues to contend with COVID-19 and the attached lockdown, Avondale University’s Dr Darren Morton is sharing that message to help people lift their mood.
The Associate Professor is hosting a seven-week program with the university and Lake Macquarie City Council to help residents improve their wellbeing under stay-at-home orders.
“About five years ago, I developed what I call an educational adventure that guides people through evidence-based strategies for lifting their moods and their life,” he said.
“We started to roll this out and it is now used in several countries in a variety of different settings, like education and health care.
“The Lift Project is all about impact and lifting as many lives as possible.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, we saw the desperate need to support people’s health and wellbeing and we found a way to make the project available to entire communities and the latest roll out of that is in our local area.
“I see my role as an educator to help people discover science-based ways to feel better and feel better about life.”
The “eduventure” offers locals the chance to find strategies to improve their lives.
“I think what we are doing here is really innovative and should be something that is offered throughout Australia,” Dr Morton told the Newcastle Weekly.
“We know mental distress has more than doubled, so people need some positive things to engage with to support their health and wellbeing.
“Each week participants will receive a couple of emails that has a link to some lesson information that they can engage with in their own time.
“There is an educational presentation given by yours truly that goes for about 20 minutes and then we invite them to undertake some fun challenges that involve putting the learnings into practice.
“We’re also offering prizes.”
Dr Morton added, after conducting several studies, they know the program works.
“When people engage with this they experience significant improvement in their mental health and wellbeing,” he said.
“What we are doing here is shining a light on what can be done in all communities, it is an innovative way moving forward to champion true support.
“It is a very comprehensive approach to what we can do to put our health and wellbeing in the best possible state.
“We look at what makes life meaningful and tolerable and we look at the importance of actually getting outside ourselves and looking out for others.
“We rise by lifting others, even in times like this even when many of us are struggling there is value in looking out for others.”
Registrations for Let’s Lift Lake Mac are open until 17 September, residents can sign up by visiting theliftproject.global/letsliftlakemac
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