Occupational Therapy News OTnews February 2020 | Page 11

NEWS
Community joins with local hospital to meander for mental health
Up to 200 people have laced up to meander on underused local
walking routes in and around the grounds of a mental health
hospital in Glasgow.  A one-day event was developed to encourage people to get out
and use them. Some funding was used to work with Glasgow City
Council Active Travel Lead, which helped create a new walking and
The event was organised by occupational therapist Samantha
Flower after a survey on site highlighted that few people knew
about the Rambler Scotland Medal Routes, which cut through and
around Leverndale Hospital.
She wanted to encourage local people to get more active,
but also make sure they know they were welcome in the hospital
grounds to help break down stigma about the site. 
She says: ‘The work started as I chair a service user, carer and
staff group called Design in the Dale, which is focused on improving
the inpatient wards and the site of hospital.
‘Service users joined the group and said that the site was
soulless, hard to find your way about and it doesn’t make us feel
better.’
She accessed funding through the Green Exercise Partnership
and Paths For All, and conducted the survey on who was
accessing the nearby walking routes, but few people knew they
even existed.
Says Samantha: ‘I went out into the local community – it’s an
area of high deprivation, but there are very beautiful walks within a
woodland area as well as a river walk and a local park. Local people
just didn’t know about the paths. We really realised there was a
need to do something about that.’ cycling route called route 30, which has improved signposting for
the paths.
The day also featured tai chi, choirs, drumming, stone painting,
and games run by Nike volunteers for children.
The day was a huge success, drawing on the expertise
of several third sector and statutory organisations to attract
a significant audience, including 95 unregistered walk-up attendees.
Says Samantha: ‘I’m an occupational therapist and that’s
my job – I provide professional and strategic leadership for
occupational therapists in South Glasgow and East Renfrewshire.
‘An important aspect of my work is service user and carer
involvement. Meander for Mental Health involved bringing a number
of organisations together, finding the will to get things done,
divvying up the work and seeing the value on the day.’
The event has also had a lasting impact, with post-event 
surveys indicating that there has been a rise in the use of the
footpaths. Says Samantha: ‘We had one service user who hadn’t
been aware of the walks and found out about them on the day of
the event. He’s used the walks at least three times a day since then
and lost three stones in weight. He says it had changed his life.’
A bigger, second event is now being planned for September.
See the video of the event at: www.youtu.be/eb98mpZL9ow.
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OTnews February 2020 11