GOGA Tayside supporting mental health inpatients to utilise physical activity for recovery, intervention and prevention
Since March 2022, GOGA Tayside have been delivering physical activity opportunities in General Adult Psychiatry wards within Murray Royal Hospital, Perth to aid patients with their rehabilitation.
The programme also looks at helping patients sustain activity beyond discharge by helping them to explore different types of activity, teaching them new skills and providing a pathway of opportunities to attend sessions both out in the community or online as part of the GOGA Tayside programme – all of which remain fun, free and suitable for all abilities to make them easily accessible.
The purpose of this is to offer patients a better quality of life by using a holistic approach to their care, which will improve their overall wellbeing and, in turn, reduce the likelihood of relapse and re-admission. The feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive, to such an extent that this service is being extended and adapted to other specialist wards within the hospital, offering activities such as gardening, which will provide a range of benefits alongside the increased activity levels, such as the lasting legacy of the gardens for new patients, education around nutrition by growing vegetables (then to be used within cooking classes to aid rehabilitation), socialisation and teaching people new life skills. Due to the success at Murray Royal Hospital, there are plans to expand this across other sites within Tayside.
In addition, GOGA Tayside have been expanding their programme by offering various activities in communities, continuing their online activities, and collaborating with partners on opportunities, such as Scottish Disability Sport and NHS Tayside Trauma & Rehabilitation providing activities for individuals with acquired disabilities, and the University of Dundee on their Wellbeing, Safety and Support event, to name but a few.
More information to follow about an exciting GOGA Tayside event offering taster sessions of activities, that are fun for all ages and abilities, at the Riverside in Dundee on Sunday 28th August.