PATIENTS and staff at Parklands Hospital took part in an activity with therapeutic benefits for those at the specialist unit.

As part of World Mental Health Day on October 10, patients at the specialist mental health facility took part in a ‘yarn bombing’ event.

The front of the Aldermaston Road facility was decorated by brightly coloured knitted and crocheted patches, which were strung out across the row of trees at the entrance to Parklands.

Staff, patients and family carers at the hospital’s adult mental health ward were busy making crocheted and knitted shapes and pompoms to ‘yarn bomb’ trees and the front of the building in the days leading up to World Mental Health Day, in what will be a left as a bright and exciting art installation at the hospital.

Jessamy Vincent, nursing team leader at Parklands Hospital, said: “The idea comes from the trend known as ‘yarn bombing’ and the colourful project should provide a very jolly greeting to visitors of Parklands Hospital as the front of the building, trees and canopy will be wrapped in colourful sections with pompoms adorning the branches of the trees.

“Not only should it bring a smile to people’s faces, but the preparation has been a source of enjoyment and activity on the ward.

“Craft is a gentle healer for so many health issues, from chronic pain to crippling anxiety and there is a growing recognition in psychological research that creativity is associated with emotional functioning.”

The idea of the event was organised to raised awareness and break the stigma which surrounds mental health, and to hold it on World Mental Health Day is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.

The installation will remain in situ for the next couple of weeks.

Once the art installation is over, the items will be taken down, washed and used to make blankets for the homeless in Basingstoke and Deane, with the pompoms being reused within Parklands and will used to decorate the hospital ward’s Christmas tree.

To find out more about the work carried out at Parklands hospital and the services it provides, go to southernhealth.nhs.uk.