Research shows that spending time outdoors plays an important role in improving our overall mental health and wellbeing.
As organisations across the country get set to mark Green Health Week (Saturday 8 May – Sunday 16 May), NHS Lanarkshire is encouraging residents to embrace the health benefits of spending time outdoors.
Over the past four years, NHS Lanarkshire has partnered with Clydesdale Community Initiatives Scotland (CCI Scotland) to develop the Green Health Programme. Various green health opportunities are offered for inpatients and outpatients as well as hospital staff and visitors, across five hospital sites:
- Kirklands, Bothwell
- Cleland, Motherwell
- Coathill, Coatbridge
- Lady Home, Lanark
- Airbles Road Centre (ARC), Motherwell
Plans are also in hand to develop the scheme to include a further two sites.
NHS Lanarkshire’s Green Health Programme integrates green activities into patient rehabilitation programmes and dementia groups, as well as growing fresh vegetables on hospital sites where all produce grown is used within NHS Lanarkshire or donated to Clydesdale Foodbanks.
Marie McKeown, Partnership Manager – Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership, NHS Lanarkshire said: “Green Health Week is a fantastic opportunity to explore outdoors and this year is even more important as it coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week’s theme of connecting with nature.”
“The health benefits of spending time in nature are known to help relieve stress, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improve sleep.”
“Our ongoing partnership with CCI Scotland supports patients, hospital visitors and our staff to experience a positive boost to their physical, emotional and mental health, as well as new and improved hospital grounds. We’re thrilled to be able to offer such a rewarding initiative.”
Helen Thomson, Placement Support Manager, CCI Scotland commented: “Our partnership with NHS Lanarkshire has resulted in participants learning new skills, gaining more confidence and experiencing feelings of contributing to the community.”
“We have had almost 100 patients actively engage in our sessions, many long term in-patients where this opportunity has made a significant impact on their social, mental and physical wellbeing. We have also donated 825kg of vegetables to the Clydesdale Foodbank, all of which is grown on NHS Lanarkshire grounds.”
