CAMHS teams shortlisted for nature-based mental health support award
The Trust's Restormel Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and CAMHS Goes Wild! team have been shortlisted for a prestigious award. This is in recognition of their nature-based approach to supporting children and young people's mental health.
They have been named as finalists in this year's Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) Awards. The team has been shortlisted for Outstanding Commitment to Sustainability and Green Care.
The team have been recognised for their innovative use of nature-based projects to support children and young people's mental health.
The proof-of-concept group have been working in partnership with Newquay Orchard. This is an urban green space for the community in the heart of the town. The group has also previously received an NHS Charities Together Innovation grant. This was for £150,000.
The Restormel CAMHS team have been leaders, innovators, and early adopters of a nature-based and lifestyle medicine approach. Molly Jenkins is a clinical associate psychologist. She has played a key role in the content and delivery of the group with Newquay Orchard.
The team use an approach known as 'lifestyle medicine'. This supports person-centred change. The areas of which include sleep, movement, nutrition, stress management, positive connections and reducing harmful choices. All of these can impact on health.
The award bid is led by Dr Beth Chapman. She is a locum consultant psychiatrist for the Trust. The team's award bid highlights several years of work by the team. This includes showing the therapeutic benefits of green and blue spaces. It has also looked at the creation of child and young person-friendly outdoor environments. The team have also worked on moving forward with lifestyle medicine approaches within CAMHS services.
Dr Chapman said:
"We are really pleased to have been shortlisted at this year's RCPsych Awards.
"While the submission included the proof-of-concept CAMHS Goes Wild! programme, this recognition is really for the whole Restormel CAMHS team. They have been committed to using green and blue spaces to support children and young people's mental health for many years.
"The team has worked hard to make our garden spaces more welcoming and therapeutic for young people. It has led the way in testing a lifestyle medicine approach. Colleagues across the service have also supported the project. This has been through evaluations, research, write-ups, and the development of our Lifestyle Medicine Prescription.
"Our model combines nature-based approaches, lifestyle medicine and strong community partnerships. It closely aligns with recommendations from both the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare. We are very proud of what has been achieved.
"This is a testament to the dedication, creativity and passion of all involved. A huge thank you and well done to all those who have supported, enabled, designed and delivered this work."
The awards take place on Thursday 5 November at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London.
The team have also revealed plans to roll out 1-day nature-based training with the Natural Academy. More details will be announced soon.