Waiting Room Walks

1
Waiting Room Walks

• Arts and Health South West
• September 2008
• Malcolm Learmonth
• Lead Art Psychotherapist and Arts and
  Environments Development Lead, Devon Partnership
  NHS Trust
• Arts and Health Lead, British Association of Art
  Therapists
• Co-Director Insider Art.

2
Enhancing the Healing Environment.
The Briars, Exeter.
3
Context

• An Arts based mental health service. (Creative
  Therapies Team)
• An Arts based approach to a relaxed and
  facilitating environment
• A ripple effect on mental health culture
• Conflicts and communities of interest project
  lead and contributing artist.

4
Waiting Room Walks

• A digital photo screen slowly changing images
  of local walks.
• The screen is
• Somewhere to go in imagination
• An art work in its own right
• Health promotion.
• Intended to encourage people to get out and
  enjoy! Most walks near Exeter. Walks are
  numbered, keyed to the local map.
• A catalogue gives details, choice of which walk
  to go on.
• Idea piloted with staff first. People seem to
  like it!
• Idea already commissioned for another DPT site..

5
Walking and Health Mental healthMind
commissioned two studies from theUniversity of
Essex. These studies confirm thatparticipating
in green exercise activities providessubstantial
benefits for health and wellbeing.
Ecotherapy - The Green Agenda for Mental Health
Mind, 2007
6
(No Transcript)
7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
Physical health benefits
Lower stress levels

• Managing weight.

Controlling your blood pressure.
Lengthen lifespan
Decreasing your risk of heart attack.
Lowering your risk of stroke
Boosting "good" cholesterol
Avoiding your need for gallstone surgery.
Relieve arthritis and back pain
Improve sleep
Strengthen muscles, bones, and joints
Prevent depression, colon cancer, constipation,
osteoporosis, and impotence
Reducing your risk of breast cancer and type 2
diabetes
10
The art work

• Landscape, inner and outer, always been close to
  my business as an artist
• Walks as pilgrimages
• And, early on, as part of my therapy work..

11
(No Transcript)
12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
Waiting areas

• Liminal spaces spaces between, often anxiety
  provoking
• Important that art work not too in your face
  engagement is optional!
• The catalogue and map give practical
  information.

16
(No Transcript)
17
Evaluation

• Excellent absorbed me.
• People love them.
• Great!
• Carers and clients comment on them. Thats
  upside down. They also say its relaxing.
• I think these are lovely much better than a
  fish tank.
• Very interesting and absorbing.
• Fabulous a real escape from the world. Allows
  people to be somewhere else.
• Beautiful, relaxing.

18
Future Developments?

• Joining up with PCT walking initiative
• Service user generated content (e.g. via OT
  walking group for in patients)
• Already commissioned for another mental health
  centre in Exeter, and another Trust interested

19
Waiting Room Walk Dolbury Hill.

• About three miles from Exeter. Takes as long as
  you want, but allow and hour and half easy
  going.
• But legend has it that there is dragon guarding
  treasure at the top, so watch out for it!

20
(No Transcript)
21
(No Transcript)
22
(No Transcript)
23
(No Transcript)
24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
(No Transcript)
27
(No Transcript)
28
(No Transcript)
29
(No Transcript)
30
(No Transcript)
31
(No Transcript)
32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34
(No Transcript)
35
(No Transcript)
36
(No Transcript)
37
(No Transcript)
38
(No Transcript)
39
(No Transcript)
40
(No Transcript)
41
(No Transcript)
42
(No Transcript)
43
(No Transcript)
44
(No Transcript)
45
(No Transcript)
46
(No Transcript)
47
(No Transcript)
48
(No Transcript)
49
(No Transcript)
50
(No Transcript)