Greenspace on referral an effective treatment for mental health clients

The Branching Out project, delivered by Forestry Commission Scotland, saw almost 100 individuals with series and long-term mental health problems undertake a variety of activities in woodland areas around Glasgow. 

Participants included patients from secure units, Alzheimers sufferers and domestic abuse victims and the Forestry Commission worked with organizations including Women’s Aid and the Glasgow Association for Mental Health.

Small groups of mental health services users took part in 12 weekly sessions, which involved activities such as health walks, environmental art, conservation, bushcraft skills and relaxation.  The overall aim of the project was to improve their quality of life by addressing some of the secondary effects of a mental health problem, such as isolation and lack of physical activity. 

Following a successful evaluation of the pilot, which found clients experienced improved mental well-being and a significant increase in physical activity levels, Branching Out is to be rolled out to other locations and client groups across Scotland.

From April 2010, Forestry Commission Scotland will be working with Edinburgh and Lothian Greespace Trust to develop the service for mental health service users in the Edinburgh area.  Meanwhile, funding has been secured to continue the project in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area until 2011 and options are being explored to extend the programme to Inverclyde.  There are also plans to extend the project to individuals with addiction issues.

Hugh McNish, Forestry Commission Scotland’s health advisor for Central Scotland, said:“The concept of using greenspace to promote and maintain mental health predates the development of almost all other mental health treatments.  We know that engagement with greenspace has psychological, social and physical benefits.  For clients engaged with mental health services, who typically experience reduced levels of social and physical activity, this is particularly appropriate.

“Branching Out was a hugely successful pilot which demonstrated the benefits of the health and environmental sectors working together to deliver health outcomes for mental health service users.  It is also a cost-effective option – delivery of the service cost less than £50 per participant per day.

 “We believe that greenspace referral is effective as a complementary form of treatment in a secondary and tertiary care mental health population and would encourage mental health services providers and clinical practitioners to consider supporting and adopting such programmes.”

Uptake of the Branching Out service was very high, with almost 95% of available places taken up.  Of the clients who started the programme, 70% completed it.

The evaluation of the project’s first year focused on pre and post programme measures of well-being, general health and physical activity.  Those who took part reported five key benefits: improvement to their mental well-being; improvements to physical health; acquirement of transferable skills; provision of daily structure/routine and development of social skills.

Clients also reported improvements in confidence and self-esteem.  The opportunity to demonstrate competence in tasks, the contribution of the work to the community, the attainment of new skills and the acquisition of the John Muir Discovery Award (and other certificates) appeared to provide clients with a sense of achievement and pride.

At the end of the programme, groups were brought together with family and friends for a joint graduation ceremony, when longer term volunteer and training opportunities were highlighted.

A group of 12 service users from The Glasgow Association for Mental Health, one of the principal providers of mental health services in Greater Glasgow, took part in Branching Out.

Linda Nolan, a project worker with GAMH, said: “I can’t find words to describe how positive an experience Branching Out was for our service users.  We wanted to get people out and about more so when we heard about Branching Out we grabbed the opportunity.

“The confidence of our service users tends to be quite low and one of the most obvious benefits of Branching Out was that it built their self-esteem.  We were out learning about nature and building things like bird boxes and wind chimes and the group’s confidence just built week on week.

“People still talk about it now and have passed on their positive experiences to other service users who are keen to get involved.  This is a fantastic project which we hope to remain involved in going forward.”

Branching Out was a 12-month service development delivered in conjunction with a variety of partners including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership and Glasgow City Council.

For more information about Branching Out, contact Hugh McNish on 01698 368555.