Highland-wide organisation Think Nature Health Walks become 700th group to sign Scottish Action for Mental Health charter
A network of walking groups throughout the Highlands has become the 700th Scottish sports organisation to commit to embedding positive mental health and wellbeing practices, helping to make sport and physical activity more inclusive and mentally healthy.
Think Nature Health Walks is now one of more than 700 sporting clubs and organisations to sign Scotland’s mental health charter for physical activity and sport, which is managed and delivered by Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH).
Think Nature Health Walks currently operates 15 walking groups across Fort William, Spean Bridge, Kyle and Lochalsh, Isle of Skye, Isle of Raasay, Assynt, Tongue, Thurso, Castletown, Wick, Helmsdale, Golspie, Dornoch, Muir of Ord and Inverness.
The charter aims to improve equality and reduce discrimination by ensuring mental health problems are not a barrier to engaging, participating and achieving in sport and physical activity.
The milestone coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week, taking place this week, with the theme of moving more to support our mental health.
One walking group participant said their group provides “a vital regular beacon, helping not only in keeping up a certain level of physical fitness and hope, but perhaps more importantly, a balance of mental wellbeing, through regular support, constant companions and friendship – all in the context of the great wild Highland outdoors.”
Through a SAMH toolkit and online resources, the charter supports anyone involved in physical activity and sport, from grassroots to elite level, to talk about mental health and wellbeing and to know where to go to get help.
Reaching 700 sport and activity organisations up and down the country comes just months after the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 2024 became the first event of its kind to join the charter, committing to a mentally healthy championships for staff, volunteers, athletes, officials and spectators.
Billy Watson, chief executive of SAMH, said: “Achieving 700 signatories is a tremendous milestone. That’s 700 clubs and organisations across Scotland taking action to support people’s mental health and wellbeing, using the collective power of physical activity and sport to create positive lasting change.
“We encourage anyone who would like to find out more about how the charter can support their organisation to get in touch.”
Isabel McLeish, Health Walk Coordinator at Think Nature Health Walks, has completed the SAMH mental health awareness module, taken part in further mental health awareness training, and joined the Scottish Health Walk Networks’ mental Health Advisory Group.
Isabel said: “Walking in your local green space is a great way to support your health and wellbeing. People joining our walks share how important the walking groups are for helping to get out and about more, developing connections with others, and reducing social isolation.”
