To coincide with this October's status as Mental Health Month - as well as this year's World Mental Health Day - Catholic Healthcare has been working on a new honour garden for Newcastle's Calvary Mater Hospital.
2123 multi-coloured wildflowers, each representing a mental health bed in New South Wales, will stand proudly in the garden.
Residential Manager of both Charles O'Neill Hostel and St John's Villa, Miriam Mutasa, anticipates the new view will lift the spirits of her residents and their visitors - she hopes the colourful additional to the ward will also help reduce stigma.
"There's a lot more we can do - just by acknowledging that mental illnesses can be experienced by anyone. Just because someone has suffered from mental health issues doesn't make them a lesser person."
She acknowledges the strength of her patients, "we need to celebrate these people because their resilience is what makes them who they are."
On October 10th, when the honour garden is officially opened to the public, residents will share their stories and talk about what the new flowers mean to them. The hospital welcomes guests.
