New gym provides mental health boost to Mackay patients
The initiative is expected to reduce stress and have a ‘profoundly positive impact’ on wellbeing
Mackay
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THE Mackay community has banded together to create a space expected to “profoundly” boost” the wellbeing of patients within the Mackay Base Hospital’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit.
The new gym, which adjoins an outside court with a basketball ring, is fitted out with weights, wall balls, cardio equipment and more.
Mackay Hospital Foundation chief executive officer T'aire Olsen said it would enhance psychological therapies, help patients manage their symptoms and improve their “quality of life”.
“Regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on mental health conditions and also relieves stress, improves memory, helps with sleep and boosts overall mood,” Ms Olsen said.
“We anticipate this new facility will be of profound benefit to patients staying in the unit and help them to improve their overall wellbeing.”
She said the gym was one part of a suite of wellbeing measures being introduced including gardening, arts and craft, mindfulness colouring, BBQ breakfasts and music therapy.
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For Muscle Garden Health and Fitness owner Kay Nyenuh, the gym was a passion project, having run charity bootcamps since 2018 to help fund it.
“I understand how important exercise is for mental health,” Mr Nyenuh said.
“It helps (people) to release tension and endorphins.”
Mr Nyenuh said his team would visit the gym weekly to run training sessions and he thanked Mackay businesses who he said were essential to realising the project.
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Mackay Hospital Foundation fundraising and events officer Brittney Phelan said Mr Nyenuh had “smashed it out of the park” by raising more than $16,000 over the past year.
To keep up to date on Mr Nyenuh’s community events, follow the Muscle Gardens’ Facebook page.
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