Mental Health Gardening Projects
1
The Pitch
Problem statement
Service users have told us that they are enthusiastic about the possibility of gardening with us and feel their mental health would benefit from outdoor activities set in a therapeutic environment. Many say their health conditions and living arrangements limit access to safe, outdoor spaces. Our Ashley Road day centre includes a large outdoor space which is underused owing to limited funding for maintenance. Currently, the garden is not an inviting space for our service users.
Solution
Research shows gardening reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety and helps social integration and self-esteem (Mental Health Review Journal, 2013). “Ecotherapy” has been shown to relieve symptoms of dementia and build useful work skills (Natural England, 2016). It is an accessible activity for our service users who face physical barriers to other forms of exercise. With additional funding, we hope to turn our outdoor day centre spaces into colourful, welcoming gardens for service users to relax and socialise, with gardening activities accessible to all abilities, along with advice from local experts on seasonal flower beds, wildlife conservation, and vegetables for use in group meals
Why are we best placed to deliver?
Islington Mind’s day centres offer a safe, therapeutic space where users can socialise while accessing support from staff and volunteers. We offer activities tailored to our service users’ needs (e.g. healthy cooking, creative writing and art). The projects act as a referral point to internal and external resources, ensuring users can access services they need. Our service users often face multiple disadvantages combined with complex ongoing mental health problems, including poverty, physical health problems and isolation. We have 40 years of expertise in providing mental health care and social opportunities to hard-to-reach communities with a variety of marginalised identities and needs.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Gardening tools | £1,000 |
| Seeds/plants | £600 |
| Safety equipment | £500 |
| Soil/fertiliser | £300 |
| 6 sessions with local experts over 12 months at £100 each - fees | £600 |
Beneficiaries
40 people
Expected impact
By providing a therapeutic activity within a safe, mental-health-focused space, the project will improve the wellbeing of people with mental health problems, relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety. Through Islington Mind's referral pathways to our other mental health services, the project will also improve participants’ links to further mental health support through our own Mental Health Recovery Pathway, and through external providers. By providing a safe space to engage in activity and improve skills, people with mental health problems will feel safe and supported in their efforts to overcome patterns of personal social isolation by finding community and solidarity with others in similar circumstances. They will engage with other users and volunteers to understand each other’s issues, overcome barriers and inequalities, gain positive social experiences, develop social networks and improve sense of belonging.
Track record
Islington Mind's outdoor day centre spaces have hosted gardening projects in previous years, which have been very well received by service users and have contributed to the improvement of the outdoor spaces for all to enjoy. The need for further activities that will encourage social integration and improve resilience and recovery in people with mental health problems, particularly following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, was suggested by our existing service users in our formal and informal meetings, service user meetings, surveys, and consultation groups.