Alternative nursing therapies beyond the bedside, treating the whole person: A Case study of Bevan Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit/Low Secure Unit, doing the same things differently.

Holistic nursing is not necessarily something that you do. It is an attitude, a philosophy, and a way of being. Using available spaces indoor on sunlit windowsills, outdoor on concrete floor and raised beds to grow mostly edible plants we connect with ecology embracing our unique environment.

Growing plants with each other helps us deal with change like being in hospital against our wish and diagnosed with a mental illness or living with it. Yes, just like growing plants recovery also takes too much time and needs more patience. Maybe it is time to accept it and relax into your ‘new life’. Keeping hope and motivation alive rather than seeing living as a battle to be won.

The Aloe vera project started with plantlets donated by Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit (RNRU) grown on their windowsill. They are doing well indoors in a shady corner. We started the garden pea project in February and it took us four months involving patients and staff in planting, fertilizing with homemade organic liquid fertilizer transferring seedlings to outdoor space, watering and harvesting in June. It was a lovely summer gardening activity with many photos.

Miller (1992) suggests that hope is the anticipation of a continued good state, or a release from a perceived entrapment. Hope is an anticipation of a future which is good and which is based upon mutuality, a sense of personal competence, coping ability, psychological well-being, purpose and meaning in life, as well as a sense of “the possible”.

A growing body of research shows that simply being around greenery profoundly benefits the mind and body, from lowering blood pressure, improving mood, reducing the perception of pain to promoting relaxation amongst other general wellbeing.

Our current garden project indoors on our windowsill is the green vegetable ‘Callalloo’ with seeds (Amaranthus sp.) imported from Cameroon in West Central Africa. Callaloo is a Caribbean dish that originated in Africa. In Nigeria ‘efo-tete’ is used extensively and also appreciated in many West African countries. The amaranth leaves or ‘African spinach’ make ravishing dishes rich in vitamins and minerals for regenerative nutrition and health.

A similar therapeutic gardening project can be initiated in collaboration with other health professionals in the UK and all you need to do is contact us and we will be willing to support you.

Our seedlings are on sale and sometimes presented as gifts to patients, carers, friends and colleagues. All funds raised are used to support the project to be sustainable. For those who may not wish to buy our seedlings, your kind donation to Bevan Ward (PICU/LSU) Therapeutic Garden Project will be greatly appreciated and acknowledged.

Ir. Mrs. Suzanne Mbi Enoh-Arthur (RMN; M.Sc. Oxon), Life Skills, Activities and Alternative Mental Health Recovery Link, East London NHS Foundation Trust, City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health, Homerton Row, London E9 6SR, UK. Tel: 02085108031 Email: suzanne.enoharthur@eastlondon.nhs.uk