Myplace, one of our award-winning mental health services, has received glowing feedback this Mental Health Awareness Week.
Myplace, an eco-therapy partnership between us and Lancashire Wildlife Trust, aims to improve mental health in young people and adults by giving them the opportunity to connect with nature, learn new skills and build up resilience.
Connor Hudson, an Assistant Project Officer at Myplace, was previously a service user, he explains:
"Myplace has helped me in more ways than I can actually count, but one of those has been to help me connect with nature.
Before I started with the project, I would have liked to enjoy the outdoors and nature more, Myplace helped introduce that to me at my own pace, so it was super easy for me to enjoy it, and learn a couple of things along the way.”
The initiative was recently named the best Mental Health Innovation of the Year at the Health Service Journal Awards 2021.
Connor continued:
“For me, being outdoors really helped with letting go of all the stresses and negative thoughts that go on inside my head. The way I like to see it, I go into the outdoors and let the negative thoughts and stress just blow away in the wind. And I wouldn't have had that option of having nature as an escape if it wasn't for the Myplace project."
Kevin O’Hara, Partnership Development Manager at LSCft, said:
“Working in partnership to provide award-winning care is one of our key strengths here at LSCft.
Mental health is vitally important for us all, and the work Myplace do is invaluable for young people and adults throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria. Being outside, experiencing fresh air and not relying on technology is a brilliant way to help manage wellbeing.”
Mental Health Awareness Week is the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health. The week, which is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, is in its 21 year and runs from 10 to 16 May. This year’s theme is nature and how connecting with the natural world can support good mental health.
Where to get help when you need it?
Anyone in a mental health crisis, or needing advice for a loved one, can call the Trust’s Mental Health Crisis line (MHCL) on 0800 953 0110, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In addition Mindsmatter, a community and wellbeing service, run by the Trust , works to support people with stress, anxiety and depression is urging people in the community to utilise its self-referral service and gain access to tools and mental health professionals who can offer help.
