Hunt The Good Project tackles mental health through workshops, events and collaboration

“My panic attacks were so bad that I would be at the point of passing out”

Morgan Richards is a 111 call handler and founder of Hunt The Good Project –  a not-for-profit organisation that aims to tackle mental health issues through workshops, events and collaboration community.

Morgan founded the project after experiencing severe depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

Can you talk me through your journey and how you ended up starting Hunt The Good Project?

I’ve worked as a tour guide and as a PT.

None of those jobs were resonating fully with me so I left them all, I blew my whole life up and moved to Australia.

There was a moment, in the Blue Mountains, I was with my boyfriend and I just burst into tears and said “I just want to help people” and it was in that moment that the project was born.

Can you define what Hunt The Good Project is? Or where it is right now?

It’s a space whether on the internet or the workshops that I’m doing for people to explore who they are. 

How has the project personally changed or affected you?

I like that I wake up in the morning, I make a cup of tea and then I write a post.

I love that I can connect with people and use social media in a positive way.

And receiving messages from people saying what I have written has made them think about their choices, or prompted them to make a positive change in their life, is wonderful.

What is your go to activity for a pick me up?

It depends on what kind of mood I’m in.

I really love boxing, running and yoga to get out any frustration.

Reading on my own, I like to read for learning. 

Also hiking in the mountains, that’s my ultimate reset button.

I think by creating physical space we create mental space too.

What are you reading at the moment?

All the women I really respect told me I needed to read a book called “Women Who Run With Wolves” so I’m reading that.

It’s an incredible book, quite difficult to get in to so you definitely need a lot of silence for it and time and space to think about it.

I’d definitely recommend that.

Can you talk me through your upcoming workshop on rewiring the brain?

Yes! So the last one was just a test and I was scared to do it, but that’s what I love about the project, it gets me to face my fears, and helps other people to also face theirs.

We do a series of exercises, for example one called “Dump your shit” where I ask people to write down everything that’s made them uncomfortable or has challenged them in the past six months.

The only rule is that you can’t stop writing.

That’s a way of getting all your thoughts out.

Tapping into the unconscious, realising the little things that have affected us.

Tell me something that blows you away?

I think collective dancing or everyone singing the same song together.

It reminds me that we are all connected in some way.

Being able to share that experience gives me goosebumps.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t take yourself so damn seriously! Keep focused on your purpose.

Don’t try to fit in.

Talk me through your perfect day?

A perfect day for me would be waking up before everybody else, making a cup of tea and going boxing.

Then, meeting a friend for a donut at Proven Goods, and spending the day working on Hunt The Good Project stuff.

Tell me something you would like to achieve this year?

I want to run my first half marathon.

For me it’s about where my mind goes when I’m in running, and when I’m in pain and powering through.

What are your future plans for Hunt The Good Project?

I’m in the process of writing a guide.

I’d love to create a resource for someone to download and work through at their own pace.

Also just keep connecting with more people, and finish my counsellor training!