%0 Journal Article
%T Growing spaces: an evaluation of the mental health recovery programme using mixed methods
%A Cath McQuarrie
%A Michaela Rogers
%A Michelle Howarth
%A Neil Withnell
%J Journal of Research in Nursing
%@ 1744-988X
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/1744987118766207
%X Therapeutic horticulture is a nature-based method that includes a range of green activities, such as gardening, to promote wellbeing. It is believed that therapeutic horticulture provides a person-centred approach that can reduce social isolation for people with mental health problems. The aim of the project was to evaluate the impact of a mental health recovery programme that used therapeutic horticulture as an intervention to reduce social inclusion and improve engagement for people with mental health problems. A mixed-methods approach was used and data from four semi-structured focus group interviews, 11 exit interviews and 20 ¡®recovery star' datasets were collected from September 2015 to October 2017. Qualitative data from the interviews were thematically analysed, and quantitative data based on a recovery star outcomes tool were analysed using descriptive statistics to demonstrate trends and progression. The findings were then triangulated to provide a rich picture of the impact of the mental health recovery programme. The recovery star data indicated that participants were working towards self-reliance. Qualitative data from the exit interview and semi-structured focus groups found similar results. The triangulated findings highlight that the mental health recovery programme enabled participant integration into the community through providing a space to grow and build self-confidence while re-engaging with society. The results suggest that using therapeutic horticulture as an intervention within the mental health recovery programme can support people with mental health problems to re-engage socially. Nature-based activities could be used within the ¡®social prescribing¡¯ movement to encourage partnership working between the NHS and voluntary sector organisations which can complement existing mental health services. The use of therapeutic horticulture as an intervention within a mental health recovery programme can support people with mental health problems to re-engage with the community and is integral to the rehabilitation process. The mental health recovery programme should be promoted within the social prescribing movement as an evidence-based opportunity to support people in the community
%K mental health
%K nature
%K therapeutic horticulture
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1744987118766207