Cornwall Hospital Introduces Horticultural Therapy for Mental Health Inpatients
2023-07-27
The Inpatient
Mental Health Unit at Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH) recently introduced
horticultural therapy as a new and engaging way to improve the patient
experience and assist in the development of new skills that can aid in
recovery.
Through this
type of therapy, staff bring patients outside to tend to vegetable gardens and
get fresh air. Garden boxes recently constructed for this program are located
behind the hospital’s Community Addiction and Mental Health Services Centre,
where a variety of herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, bell peppers and
strawberries have been planted by patients.
Horticultural
therapy has long been used as therapeutic activity for people with mental
illness. People’s interactions with plants, through goal-orientated horticultural
activities in the form of active gardening, as well as the passive appreciation
of nature, could be therapeutic to people with mental disorders.
Staff have
prioritized a patient-centered approach with the gardens, supporting patients
therapeutically while they tend to the gardens and carry out their tasks and
meet goals.
Dr. Katerina
Nikolitch, Chief of Psychiatry at Cornwall Hospital, is thrilled with the
recent launch of the new horticultural therapy program.
“Gardening has
many therapeutic benefits. It can help reduce stress and anxiety levels,
improve self-esteem, and provides physical exercise,” said Dr. Nikolitch.
“Patient interest has been very positive with many reporting they are sleeping
better, greatly enjoying the fresh air, socialization, and exercise.”
For Todd
Beauregard, being outside and participating and watching in the growth of the
garden has been a healing experience.
“I think it’s
wonderful that the gardens exist. It’s a way to bring people to nature, just to
be part of the growing and watching things become edible, I think that’s very
helpful with physical and mental health. The herbs have beautiful a smell, the
vegetables are all edible, and it’s a lovely thing for people to enjoy.”
Mandy Lane is a
mental health counsellor at CCH who has been regularly bringing her patients
outside to work in the gardens.
“Any patients
who are offered the opportunity to go work in the garden always jump at it.
There’s always lots of smiles and a noticeable lifting of mood afterwards,”
explains Lane. “I would also say it’s created good opportunity for staff and
patients to have conversations they might not have otherwise, whether about gardening
or other interests. The different environment seems to make patients feel more
at ease.”
Based on the
positive results and feedback, staff are now exploring the idea of an indoor
program that can be offered throughout the year and hopes to further expand the
outdoor garden next year.
