charlie mcmillan, spaces 2012

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

Scottish Association for Mental Health

Charlie McMillanDirector of Operations

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

People Recover Better in Gardens

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

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

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

“Working together in the garden

builds a sense of

belonging.”

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

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

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

“Being outdoors

has helped me to live indoors”

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

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

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

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!

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

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.”

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

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

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

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

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

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?

WWW.SAMH.ORG.UK

“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.”