Green shoots of recovery: the impact of a mental health ecotherapy programme
| Published date | 06 July 2010 |
| Date | 06 July 2010 |
| Pages | 4-14 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5042/mhrj.2010.0366 |
| Author | Neil Wilson,Susan Fleming,Russell Jones,Kevin Lafferty,Kirsty Cathrine,Pete Seaman,Lee Knifton |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Mental Health Review Journal Volume 15 Issue 2 June 2010 © Pier Professional Ltd
4
10.5042/mhrj.2010.0366
EVALUATION
Neil William Wilson
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde/NHS Ayrshire and Arran, UK
Susan Fleming
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, UK
Russell Jones
Glasgow Centre of Population Health, UK
Kevin Lafferty
Forestry Commission Scotland, UK
Kirsty Cathrine
Forestry Commission Scotland, UK
Pete Seaman
Glasgow Centre of Population Health, UK
Lee Knifton
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde/Mental Health Foundation/University of Strathclyde, UK
Green shoots of recovery:
the impact of a mental
health ecotherapy programme
Abstract
Branching Out is a 12-week ecotherapy programme for clients who use mental health services within the
Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. Over the course of a year 110 clients attended the programme, of whom
77 (70%) completed the course. In order to ascertain the outcomes of the programme and the elements
that appeared to facilitate change, semi-structured interviews with clients (n=28) and two focus groups
with clinicians (n=5 and n=3) from the referring services were conducted.
The data gathered therein was analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). From the
results, five themes emerged as client outcomes. These were: improvements to mental well-being, improvements
to physical health, provision of daily structure and routine, transferable knowledge and skill acquisition, and increased
social networking and social skills development. Three themes pertaining to the service logistics (team building
and social inclusion, contrast of environments and work and recognition) emerged as potential explanations for
the client outcomes. There was a perception among clients and clinicians that Branching Out represented a
‘stepping stone to further community engagement’. The results reflect a recovery-oriented approach to health
care. The limitations of the evaluation and implications for the future are discussed.
Key words
Greenspace, ecotherapy, recovery, mental health.
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