NHS Lanarkshire’s Green Health Partnership has teamed up with The Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) to create a vibrant garden space to support the mental health of children and young people.
This week (3 – 9 February 2025) is Children’s Mental Health Week, and to support this important cause, NHS Lanarkshire is raising awareness of its new outdoor project and the benefits it aims to bring.
The new garden will be created within the existing courtyard at Udston Hospital, Hamilton where children and young people supported by CAMHS, as well as NHS Lanarkshire staff, can access this therapeutic area to support their mental wellbeing.
The project is currently in development with Clydesdale Community Initiatives Scotland (CCI), where they have been working on installing new picnic benches, orchard trees, planting lots of new fruit trees and herbs and more to promote positive mental health. The garden will be finalised in the coming few months.
Laura Jack, Service Manager – Specialist Children’s Health Service Unit, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “CAMHS is proud to support Children’s Mental Health Week by raising awareness of our new garden, designed to provide a calming and natural space where children and young people can engage in outdoor therapy.
“This years’ theme for Children’s Mental Health Week is ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’, which aims to equip and empower children and young people to embrace self-awareness and explore what it means to them. This theme aligns perfectly with this project as we work towards creating a nurturing environment that promotes emotional resilience.”
Marie McKeown, Green Health Partnership Manager, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “The health benefits of spending time in nature are known to help relieve stress, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improve sleep.
“Our work as part of the Green Health Partnership, which is funded by NHS Endowments and NHS Charities Together, is to highlight and develop Lanarkshire’s greenspace, parks and nature for people to access and enjoy.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing the finalised garden and hearing the feedback from CAHMS staff and patients to find out how this outdoor space has impacted their wellbeing.”
Jon Goodwin, Head of Grants at NHS Charities Together, added: “There’s a strong link between spending time outdoors and improved health and wellbeing. That’s why, through the Greener Communities Fund, delivered in partnership with Hubbub and funded by Starbucks, we are improving access to quality green spaces in healthcare settings and beyond.
“These projects play an important role in our wider commitment to help improve the health of the patients, staff, and communities of the NHS, and in turn reduce the pressure on overstretched NHS services. We very much look forward to hearing how NHS Lanarkshire staff and the children and young people supported by CAHMS benefit from the vibrant and accessible new garden at Udston Hospital, made possible by the Greener Communities Fund.”
Whether you’re a child or young person and struggling with how you’re feeling or you’re a parent or carer worried about a child, you’re not alone and there is support available. You can use this directory to find out what is available in Lanarkshire.
Find out more about Children’s Mental Health Week.
