Let’s go green

Evidence suggests that there are positive benefits associated with gardening as a mental health intervention ¹, and that horticulture therapy should be considered as a viable therapy option to improve mental ill health. ²

Mental Health Drug & Alcohol (MHDA) consumers and staff of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) were involved in the Let’s Go Green project which aimed to reduce waste and emissions through implementing:

• a sustainable garden at the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital's Safe Haven containing edible produce and ornamental plants
• a composting system to divert organic waste from landfill at the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital's Recovery Unit.

The project aimed to reduce waste and emissions through creating a closed loop waste management system, and improve the mental health and wellbeing of consumers through providing diversional activities, increasing access to healthy produce and developing an inclusive space for all to use.

Engagement with an Indigenous flora expert

The project involved multiple partnerships and collaboration with stakeholders, including establishing a project committee with regular meetings. Consultation occurred at each stage of the project, with adjustments made when the team received feedback. The project team engaged an Indigenous flora expert to provide recommendations for the inclusion of Indigenous plants within the garden, and education sessions for staff across both Safe Haven and Recovery Unit sites. The project team developed specific signage about the plants for display in the garden and created promotional brochures for consumers.

Let’s Go Green supported the improvement of the mental health and wellbeing of consumers and staff through engagement in light outdoor physical activity, enhancing access to meaningful activities, exercise, and benefits of healthy eating and nutrition. This project provided a space that improves the work environment of staff and access to green space for both staff and consumers.

Positive feedback from staff and consumers

Carbon calculation reflected a reduction of food waste, 57.85 x 1.6 =92.56 t CO2-e, and paper waste, 0.09 x 1.1 x 1.6 = 0.158 t CO2-e. Fossil fuel carbon emissions for transporting waste offsite reduced by 640km. The project benefits:

• created carbon storage
• increased microbial activity in soils
• reducing waste transport
• processed emissions through a sustainable closed loop system.

This aligns with the MLHD Environmental Sustainability Strategy in reducing general waste going to landfill by 10% in 2024. Feedback received from staff participant survey reported the garden has transformed a “mundane” area into a “flourishing space” and further “supports the overall wellbeing of the staff.” The consumer participant survey noted engagement in the garden provided consumers with “knowledge of how to create their own gardens at home” and skill development such as “mindfulness, distraction techniques, distress tolerance, improving patience.”

The continually changing nature of the consumer group accessing the Recovery Unit presented challenges in keeping the motivation and knowledge of consumers high. Staff noted “more support, education, and instructions are needed” and “staffing time restraints limited ability to support consumers with this” (accessing the garden). This could be improved through provision of ongoing education on environmental and health benefits of composting and gardening. Let’s Go Green could be scaled up and replicated in other areas within MLHD and other LHDs across NSW.

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