Promoting positive mental health through Mood Walks

Trail note: We love promoting events and programs happening in or around the Trail on the site, here's a cool program from our friends at CHMA Champlain East

In an effort to improve both mental and physical health for people in the Prescott-Russell community, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario offers a program focused on holistic wellness. Collaborating with Hike Ontario and Conservation Ontario, Mood Walks is a province-wide program that promotes physical activity in nature to improve both physical and mental health. 

Mood Walks nurtures and supports the mental and physical well-being through several different ways. By combining education, exposure to nature’s healing effects, physical activity, and engagement, the program provides an effective approach for wellness.

Mood Walks has four key elements: mental health education, physical activity, social connection, and connection to nature which work together to promote social interaction and provide opportunities for peer support.

An increasing body of evidence suggests that one of the best ways to improve well-being is by simply spending more time outdoors. Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress, improve concentration, and bolster creative problem-solving. Beyond these health advantages, Mood Walks participants are also able to explore their community, including local trails and conservation areas.

Since fall 2022, CMHA Champlain East has been running the hour-long Mood Walks program along the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail (from the Vankleek Hill Pavilion). Sessions are offered three times a year during the fall, winter and spring, every week for four weeks. Each session includes a discussion on mental health, a guided trail walk and debriefing session. Mood Walks accommodates both daytime and evening walks to suit participant schedules. To learn more visit CMHA Champlain East’s website or contact Alyson Vandrish.