Thousands of Ontario students will head off on their post-secondary journey in the next two weeks. Although it’s an exciting chapter in a young person’s life, it can also be challenging. To minimize some of the anxiety felt during this time, students may wish to participate in a new service now available this fall at over 20 Ontario campuses. The program is called Mood Walks for Campus Mental Health which promotes physical activity in nature, or “green exercise,” to improve both physical and mental health.
Mood Walks encourages and supports the mental and physical health of students – including those at risk of, or experiencing mental health disabilities, and newcomer students who may be experiencing additional stress due to settlement challenges and social exclusion.
CMHA Ontario partnered with Hike Ontario, Conservation Ontario, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants and the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health to provide training and support for post-secondary campuses. Training for each campus helps with launching the hiking program, finding volunteers, connecting with local resources and exploring nearby trails and green spaces.
To learn more about the program please visit www.moodwalks.ca