Mental health: Adelaide students look to help improve your mental health

A program originating out of Flinders University which is designed to look after people’s mental health is being made available around the world.

The Covid-19 pandemic has presented huge mental health challenges and now a Flinders University project will help people across the globe look after their wellbeing.

Students, staff and health professionals created the Good Vibes Experiment, featuring an activity book for students with tactics to improve their mental health.

Psychology honours student and working group member Indianna Marrone said the university was now providing it for free to educational institutions and other organisations interstate and overseas.

“They key premise of the book is it’s something for everyone – mental health isn’t something for people with mental illness – it’s something we can all cultivate and practice,” she said.

Flinders University honuors student Indianna Marrone is among those who have worked on the Good Vibes Experiment, which promotes good mental health, including an activity book. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“We’ve seen through Covid there are factors like isolation and having less time to connect with people in person that create whole new barriers to cultivating mental health.”

The project promotes activities such as spending time in nature, meditation and handing out “gratitude cards” to people, which encourages students to think about the good things in their lives.

“The whole idea of the experiment is that students get to find something that works for them because one thing won’t work for everyone,” Ms Marrone said.

When the project launched, she saw the effect it was having on fellow students’ lives.

“One particular student had taken one (activity book) and by Friday, she came back and had completed the whole thing,” she said. “It’s great that it can now be available to everyone.”