Wednesday 9 April 2025
The Lake House in Scarborough – a base for local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and part of our trust – is being transformed with flower planters and artwork to make it a more welcoming space for patients and their families.
CAMHS support children and young people up to the age of 18 by providing assessment and appropriate treatment or intervention for a range of mental health issues.
Less clinical and more vibrant
Lisa Humphrey, CAMHS community support worker at Lake House, who has been championing the project, said: “Young people can sometimes struggle in a clinical environment. Following input from our children and young people and their families, we’re making changes to our outdoor space and entrance, so it feels less clinical and more vibrant.”
The project, which started during Children’s Mental Health Week in February, means that children and young people now have the option to spend time outside as part of their therapy. It also supports them in building their skills and confidence in a calm, relaxed, non-clinical environment.
Lisa, who delivers one-to-one interventions to CAMHS patients in both the community and clinical settings, explained: “A local business made us two large wooden planters for the front of the building during Children’s Mental Health Week.
“Since the planters arrived, there’s been lots of positive feedback from our patients, families and staff. They also create a talking point when people visit.
“Having somewhere that we can grow plants and watch them change and develop is a great addition. Children and young people often find it easier to talk while doing a physical activity, and being surrounded by nature is great for their wellbeing.”
Seeds of support
The CAMHS team at Lake House have been busy filling the planters with lots of spring and summer bulbs such as tulips and gladioli.
Young carer support workers, Nicola and Tammy from Carers Plus Yorkshire, kindly donated seeds and bulbs for the planters. The local charity are regular visitors to Lake House, offering lunchtime drop-in sessions to help support young people at CAMHS who have caring responsibilities.
CAMHS gardening club
The planters have also been popular with the gardening club at Lake House, which is led by CAMHS clinician Karen Dickinson. The nature-based sessions run for around eight weeks and offer six patients the opportunity to get involved in gardening. They plant fast growing seeds such as sweet peas and discover more about nature.
Karen said: “It’s such a great feeling to pass on a love of gardening. To hear the inspirational stories from young people who are independently becoming gardeners and sharing with their families what they have learnt, and growing plants at home in their own gardens, is fantastic and exactly the reason we started our gardening club at CAMHS.
“The handmade planters were donated to Lake House by Scarborough Garden and Property Services, a big thank you to Damian, Aidan and Dan! We can’t wait to see all the flowers bloom in the summer.”
