Regenerate

Regenerate is an outdoor wellbeing programme intended for NHS staff who are absent with anxiety, stress, depression or other psychiatric illnesses.

Anxiety/stress/depression/other psychiatric illnesses is consistently the most reported reason for sickness absence, accounting for over 463,000 full time equivalent days lost and 20.4% of all sickness absence in April 2022. This has remained relatively unchanged since March 2022 (20.5%).

https://www.leadinghealthcare.co.uk/

(Scottish figures approx 33%)

This is part of the reason for the current staffing crisis in the NHS but it might be possible to bring some of them back sooner.

This is not a ‘push people back on to the front lines’ programme. It’s an outdoor ‘learning how to cope with and manage stress’ programme.

Campfire discussions

It’s really important that we get a chance to just talk or listen, sitting round the campfire the same way humans have for about a million years. We’ll also use this time to talk about things like motivation, self-compassion, dealing with limiting beliefs, using gratitude showing up well for others.

What it's not

Nobody gets asked to talk about themselves, it's totally ok if you want to just listen.

There will be no feedback to managers on individuals.

We'll aim to use the well documented benefits of the outdoor environment for:

Improving wellbeing and mental health with a view to helping them return to work stronger and happier.

Equipping them with a series of ‘back-pocket’ skills to quickly restore a healthy mentral baseline.

It will give people an opportunity to:

Share experiences around work in the NHS in a relaxing setting, far from the office or the ward.

Take part in facilitated discussions around wellbeing topics.

Learn some ‘back pocket’ skills for quickly restoring their mental health baseline.

Learn to use woodland, park or hospital grounds, to take short but properly restorative breaks in the working day.

Learn to use the outdoors as a ‘green gym’ for gentle exercise.

Learn some traditional skills to enable use of similar backdrops for quality time either with friends and family or alone.

Questions

Who is this course for?

Anyone dealing with stress, anxiety, depression or burnout who wants to learn how to improve their mental health.

How much does it cost?

£500.00 per session

What is the maximum group size?

And the minimum?

Can I arrange a course exclusively for my team?

Yes

Do I have to talk about myself?

No you don't

Does it involve tree hugging or chanting mantras?

No it doesnt

The science

1 Longer Nature-Based Rehabilitation May Contribute to a Faster Return to

Work in Patients with Reactions to Severe Stress and/or Depression.

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/11/1310

2 This study describes the relationship between duration of a nature

experience (NE), and changes in two physiological biomarkers of stress –

salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00722/full

3 This study aims to 1) establish a relationship between natural

interaction and both burnout and well-being; 2) explore differences between

interacting with greenspace versus virtual nature regarding burnout and

well-being; 3) investigate the influence of physical activity on the

relationship between natural interaction and burnout/well being.

https://smartech.gatech.edu/handle/1853/66690

4 This study explored the effects of Shirin Yoku (Forest bathing) on

healthcare professionals who were experiencing stressful working

conditions.

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/21/14505