Amelia Fletcher, an occupational therapist, pictured in Halifax at the NSH Mental Health Day Hospital Wellness Garden.
““Thanks to the whole team for providing such compassionate and attentive care during my time in this program. The effort and dedication meant so much to me at a time when recovery seemed both impossible and lonely.””
We’re proud to fund programming at Nova Scotia Health’s Mental Health Day Hospital in the QEII, a care centre supporting people living with severe and persistent mental health concerns.
Occupational therapist Amelia Fletcher recently took us on a tour of the Wellness Garden, a project we support, to share its impact on program participants.
Participants and staff planned what to grow and have since tended to the garden, planting, watering, and harvesting as needed. The work is therapeutic — after all, evidence suggests that time spent gardening can boost mental wellbeing — but it also supports the development of meaningful hobbies and socialization. In addition, the garden lends itself as a tranquil space to offer a range of programming to participants in a non-clinical setting.
Last month participants used fresh veggies from the garden to make lunch for themselves. They also prepared a meal for residents of Neihley House through the Shelter NS Adopt a Meal program. When the lavender is ready to harvest, it’ll be used in weighted bean bags to support emotion regulation skills.
Participants — many of whom experience food insecurity — can also take the fresh produce and use skills they’ve learned in the program to prepare meals at home.