Mission Australia is trialling the use of gardening as a way to combat the isolation, stigma and poor health experienced by people suffering from mental illness.

For the past six months, clients of Mission Australia’s Inner City Housing Project (ICHP) – a service providing accommodation and case management support for people with major mental illness – have been planting and tending vegetables, herbs and flowers in a small plot at Wolloomoolloo’s community garden.

The four metres squared garden was recently awarded Best Community Garden and an encouragement award from the City of Sydney Council.

ICHP’s well cared for garden is about to expand into another plot, courtesy of the City of Sydney Council.

Mission Australia’s Bronwyn Howlett said that people with mental illness have shorter life expectancies than the general population.

“People with mental illness tend to have poorer health. We’ve been successfully teaching our clients how to cook healthier meals with the vegetables and herbs they’ve planted,” Mrs Howlett said.

“Every week, the clients and carers get together to cook a feast and share a meal.

“Gardening has helped improve clients’ social skills and boosted their social interactions. It’s gone a long way to elevating their confidence too. Seeing the plants grow, and picking their own vegetables has given them a sense of achievement,” Mrs Howlett said.

ICHP client, Glen said that gardening has helped him feel connected with the web of living things.

“It’s been very rewarding and enjoyable to watch the plants flower and bear fruit,” Glen said.

Media contact: Anh Dang, 02 9641 5031 or 0423 028 654

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