LEARN 1

Marissa Rose-Morris

L- On October 4th I went with the patients on a walk outside the hospital. E- During the walk myself and another colleague accompanied the patients and engaged them in conversation. The conversations were geared away from their problems and more towards general subjects such as books and television shows. It felt like the walk helped the patients stop focusing on what was wrong and focus more one everyday life. A-Giving the patients time away from the unit seems to help them relax and not focus on their diagnosis. The walk seemed to improve everyones mood including mine and the nurses. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (2012) says that recreational leisure can help those suffering from mental health issues to learn how to enjoy their leisure time and how to function independently. By spending time outside and talking about everyday things the patients are reminded that they are not just their illness. R-I think that the walks are a really good opportunity for the patients and that they should continue to be held. N-I dont think that this practice needs to be changed as it seems to be rather affective already.

Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (2012). CAMH: Recreation Therapy at CAMH. Retrieved from http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/careers_and_volunteers/student_placements/CAMH_car e_providers_overview/Pages/careproviders_recreation_therapy.aspx