"The Green Minds Project has successfully worked together with service users whom experience enduring mental health problems"
Cherelle Blythe, Senior Occupational Therapist, Acacia Unit
Food for the mind
The project took place at the Acacia Unit, a rehabilitation unit working with service users who have long-term mental health needs. The service users helped to create community gardens within the hospital, and the local area, providing the opportunity for hospital patients and members of the community to benefit from horticultural therapy activities.
The project worked with the service users to improve their mental and physical wellbeing, supporting recovery on the road to living meaningful and fulfilling lives in their communities. Sessions aimed to reduce social isolation and develop positive roles and routines which have been shown to reduce relapse rates and the need for future hospital admission.
Greater Manchester has some of the highest rates of mental health problems in England. The NHS North Manchester Clinical Commissioning Group area, where this project is targeted, is the 6th worst performing in the country out of 209.
Download our case study for more information about project aims, outcomes and challenges.
