Greg has channelled his passion for gardening to give back to his Haven community and show how much their support has meant to him.
The 64-year-old has created a sensory garden filled with Australian natives, where people can sit, relax and have a moment, at the Haven Foundation’s 16-unit residence in Pakenham.
“The space was sitting there empty so Isha [Haven Pakenham Team Leader] and I came up with the idea to make a sensory garden for residents,” he said.
“You can take a seat amongst the bushes and flowers and just collect your thoughts.
“I like looking after all the gardens around the units. I did a lot of gardening prior to moving here [Haven Pakenham] – it makes me feel at home.”
Greg has been living at Haven Pakenham since December 2023. Haven residences provide safe, secure and long-term housing for people experiencing mental health challenges, with support from qualified and experienced mental health practitioners.
He says the beauty of living at Haven is having your own space, but also the ability to connect with others if needed. Whether that’s a chat with another resident or support from Mind’s 24/7 staff.
“I used to live in a public housing unit before my sister found out about Haven. She was concerned about me living by myself and not having support,” Greg said.
“The community is my favourite thing about living here; if you want to be by yourself you can, but if you feel like company there is always someone available for a chat. Gardening and listening to rock’n’roll music from the ‘50s and ‘60s also helps me a lot with my mental health.
“My mental health has improved a lot; I’ve only had one week where I was a bit down, but now I’ve got a better handle on my mental health. When you are by yourself and start feeling down you’ve got no-one there and you spiral. But if I start feeling unwell at Haven I know I can come to the office or call a staff member – I feel safe.”
If you would like more information about Mind services, contact us by submitting a form via Mind Connect or phone: 1300 286 463.
If this article raises concerns for you, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders can also call 13 YARN (13 92 76) a 24/7 national crisis support telephone service staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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