There is a growing awareness of a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing. Holiday time is a great time to slow down and look for new ideas and experiences,  from taking time to think about the quality of the food you eat and how your health and wellbeing can be improved by reaching a Healthy Balance.  Act-Belong-Commit is a community-based health promotion campaign that encourages people to take action to improve their mental health and wellbeing. This evidence-based campaign was developed primarily from research undertaken by Curtin University into people’s perceptions of mental health and the behaviours they believed protected and promoted good mental health. The campaign is directed by Mentally Healthy WA at Curtin University, and implemented through health services, local governments, women’s health services and not-for-profit groups.

Act:  do some gardening, take a walk around a local park; watch some wildlife; take time to watch the sun set; spend time with your pets. 

Belong: join a community group or get a group together for a picnic in a natural setting; visit a wildlife sanctuary or farm with friends to see the animals; join a hiking or running  group.

Commit: become a 'civic environmentalist' : join a tree planting group; volunteer to keep your local parks and gardens clean; take up orienteering; learn more about ecology; offer to take a home bound person out to a park...

Below are some more links to more great websites, some of which can become a part of you holiday experience in the South West.