www.samh.org.ukwww.samh.org.uk

Scottish Association for Mental Health

Charlie McMillanDirector of Operations

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People Recover Better in Gardens

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SAMH: For Scotland’s Mental Health

• Scottish Association for Mental Health– Community based services including

employability and employment– National Programmes (x5)– Lobbying and Campaigning– Fundraising

• Operate in 27 of 32 local authorities• Other highlights: Resource Centres, ‘see

me’; respectme; training• Reach over 5000 people every month

through all our activities

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“Working together in the garden

builds a sense of

belonging.”

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Greenspace Activity in SAMH

• Sprout Market Garden (first service: 1983)

• Redhall Walled Garden (Edinburgh)• Chrysalis (Dundee)• Evergreen (Kirkcaldy)• Part of Get Active (Forestry Commission)• Part of Business Development Agenda

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“Being outdoors

has helped me to live indoors”

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What do the current services provide?

• Crisis Intervention• Individual work

– therapeutic interventions and skills based • Group work

– therapeutic interventions and skills based– Tools for Living TM

• Promote self management• Formal learning opportunities• Employability• Employment

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What do the current services provide?

• A safe and nurturing environment• Peer support• A sense of belonging• Recovery• Hope

• A highly cost effective and impactful intervention!

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Some feedback…

“It’s such a lovely feeling to be part of a

team.”

“ Its inspiring to watch the garden grow through the seasons.”

“When I first came to Redhall I felt broken. Now I can actually begin to see the possibility of becoming a whole human being again.”

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Get Active Community Engagement Pilots:

Evaluation• Walking, tennis, cycling, forestry, football!

• Interim report has highlighted significant outcomes for participants:

– 78% reported improved fitness

– 90% felt happier

– 87% felt more confident

– 95% learned a new skill

– 84% made new friends

• Need to disseminate this learning further and communicate this with key partners

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Other benefits included:

• Improved mood• Better sleep• Feeling happier• Having more energy (the buzz!)• Improved internal and external confidence

(how they felt about themselves and how they felt others perceived them)

• Improved relationships with friends and families (many made new friends as part of the process)

• Reduced isolation• Increase self-worth and self-belief• Increased aspirations

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Development Activity

• Greenspace Based Recovery TM

– Developing the model

• Partnerships (existing and new)

– Scottish Natural Heritage– Forestry Commission Scotland – Edinburgh City Council - Redhall– NHS Tayside/Dundee City Council/Dundee

College/DAMH – Chrysalis – Fife Council/Elmwood College - Evergreen

• Service potential….– Glasgow?– Borders?

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“I was given dungarees and boots and for the first time since I was ill, I had the sense that I was able to do something and a little spark of hope ignited.”