Coast charity combats mental health issues with water

THE mateship among friends and fishing is helping combat mental health struggles and disability issues.

FISH BITING: Bamboo Projects founder Kristy Paterson on the new wheelchair accessible boat with Zane Cecil. Picture: Eden Boyd

THE mateship among friends and fishing is helping combat mental health struggles and disability issues.

Bamboo Projects is a Sunshine Coast charity that believes in the power of the outdoors to help elevate one's outlook on life.

The latest initiative of the charity was to run the first wheelchair-accessible boat in Australia to offer mental health and disability services for free.

Kristy Paterson, who established the charity with her husband Chris in 2015, said the boat was three years in the making.

A ride on the barge-like boat was a perfect opportunity for those struggling to let out their concerns to a volunteer who has been through their own mental health journey, Mrs Paterson said.

"As soon as you walk by the water it's just instantly calming.

"The people we help are able to have those benefits while also talking to our team about their issues, especially with people who they know have been through similar things and survived."

Troy Sargent uses the Bamboo Projects services and said having access to the boat would be amazing.

"It costs a lot of money to go out on a charter and often it's hard to find one that will take wheelchairs," he said.

"You can clear your mind fishing and it's a good way to get out all of your issues, just to have a mate to chat with."

Bamboo Projects will host a Meet 'n Greet on March 10 at La Balsa Park Boat Ramp, Buddina, and is running free trips on the boat for anyone interested.

Head to www.facebook.com/Bambooprojects/.