Yes, and here are the Reckless Travelers top 5 reasons why Tourism/ Travel is good for your Mental Health. 1. Activities like cycling, driving, walking and hiking in scenic places can help you become more hopeful. What could be more stress relieving than having beautiful views of magnificent sceneries as you cycle, walk or hike to adventurous destinations with hope.
2. Travel gives you opportunities to try new things and meet new people, helping you combat monotony. Travel helps you connect with people in all aspects and this helps you to reduce biases and on the other hand it also helps you to increase your empathy towards others.
With Nina, Amos Wekesa and Faith
3. Doing something you enjoy makes you happy. This helps you create and contribute to your own happiness. 4. A wellness trip can contribute to stronger mental health. Activities like mindfulness, meditation and interactions help you learn skills that can help you keep up a regular wellness routine every where you go. 5. Travelling with loved ones helps meet your needs for love and belonging. Remember, Maslow's hierarchy of needs identifies love and belonging as key psychological human needs. On that very note, I was thrilled and delighted to join my friends Nina, Faith and Olanya Martin to celebrate World Mental Health Day which happens every 10th of October. It was organized by Andrew of #KyangaGaali Initiative in partnership with KKCA, Critical Mass Kampala, Ctrl Uganda and Rozaho Bistro restaurants in Kololo and Naguru.
Photos:
Butabika wellness trip: Our wellness trip destination was Butabika Hospital as a way of paying tribute to the biggest National Mental Health facility in the country. Our means of transport was cycling bicycles which also doubled as one of our mental health activity. The turn up from cyclists and cyclist funs was so amazing filled with so much solidarity, joy, fun and love. Through out the event, the young cyclists melted my heart the most. We set off from Rozaho Bistro restaurant in Kololo at 10am East African Time and arrival at Butabika Hospital was between 11:30 to 12: 00 Noon EAT. Departure time from Butabika was at any time of self convenience. While in Butabika, we formed six interaction groups in which we conducted question and answer sessions about Mental Health and I'll drop one question right here. Qn: How would you assist a friend who's pretending to be happy yet on the inside she/he is going through alot of depression and stress? Reckless Travelers Response: Take your friend on a wellness trip. It may be a weekend gateway or a one week holiday treat or even a month. "Thank you for uplifting a friend mentally"
Event's photos:
I later had lunch with my friends at Rozaho Bistro restaurant in Kololo. I highly recommend everyone to check out Rozaho Bistro branches for their an unforgattable delicious dishes and a great dose of a cool environment as your forever best travel therapy.
"Feeding is Key"
Rozaho Bistro Kololo:
I'm still in high spirits from the World Mental Health Day event as a participant and its always fun meeting with my friends on trips and connecting with new people. This contributes positively to my Mental Health. Shout outs to #KyangaGaali initiative, Nina, Faith, Olanya Martin, Prof. Gilbert, Andrew, Cathy and everyone who participated in this particular event. Special Regards to Amos Wekesa of Great Lakes Safaris and a father figure in the Ugandan Tourism Sector. Am so humbled to have met you sir. You are truly a loving father and a humble soul. God bless you. These were his words: "................. Am so grateful to the young generation, they're so innovative. "
Photos with Amos Wekesa:
Written by: Julie Crawford
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