The Root And Branch Project Derbyshire - Treating mental health crisis differently
The ultimate aim of The Root and Branch Project is to create and run a retreat for people experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties. We will offer peer support along with a range of Eco/Wilderness and Art Therapies in a partially woodland area. There will be the opportunity of residential stays as well as day visits. The retreat will be split into two main areas :
Area A : A residential area ( with ‘low impact’ buildings ) centred on supporting people in ‘crisis’ who are experiencing psychosis or mania. We hope to offer an alternative to admittance to a Psychiatric Unit, with minimum use of medication and in the main none medically trained staff – the retreat will train staff itself in how to support those in ‘crisis’ (a similar ethos to The Soteria Network :http://www.soterianetwork.org.uk/index.php). Some of the staff/volunteers will have used the crisis area themselves previously.
Area B : A larger area supporting a wider range of mental health issues,.. The area will offer a wide range of therapeutic activities and training, aiming to promote well-being/recovery/self-management .
We envisage three main steps towards achieving our goal :
1. Organising and running small allotment / gardening group offering peer support for a range of mental health issues.
2. Setting up and running a larger day centre offering a wider range of Eco / Wilderness / Art Therapies with peer support.
3. Setting up and running The Root And Branch Residential Retreat.
Step one has been achieved, it is based at Mastin Moor Allotments and Community Garden, Staveley near Chesterfield and began looking for ‘volunteers’ in November 2011. The group is going well with five regular attendees and links made with the NHS, CMHT’s, Chesterfield Volunteer Centre and Staveley Job Centres’ Disability Advisor. See Mastin Moor Group tab above for more details and photos etc..
Area A : A residential area ( with ‘low impact’ buildings ) centred on supporting people in ‘crisis’ who are experiencing psychosis or mania. We hope to offer an alternative to admittance to a Psychiatric Unit, with minimum use of medication and in the main none medically trained staff – the retreat will train staff itself in how to support those in ‘crisis’ (a similar ethos to The Soteria Network :http://www.soterianetwork.org.uk/index.php). Some of the staff/volunteers will have used the crisis area themselves previously.
Area B : A larger area supporting a wider range of mental health issues,.. The area will offer a wide range of therapeutic activities and training, aiming to promote well-being/recovery/self-management .
We envisage three main steps towards achieving our goal :
1. Organising and running small allotment / gardening group offering peer support for a range of mental health issues.
2. Setting up and running a larger day centre offering a wider range of Eco / Wilderness / Art Therapies with peer support.
3. Setting up and running The Root And Branch Residential Retreat.
Step one has been achieved, it is based at Mastin Moor Allotments and Community Garden, Staveley near Chesterfield and began looking for ‘volunteers’ in November 2011. The group is going well with five regular attendees and links made with the NHS, CMHT’s, Chesterfield Volunteer Centre and Staveley Job Centres’ Disability Advisor. See Mastin Moor Group tab above for more details and photos etc..
