Young Hospital Patients Design Poppies For Charity
Young people undergoing treatment at the Priory Hospital North London have been raising money for the Poppy Appeal with their own ‘designer poppies’.
The project, instigated by art teacher Carole Collins, has so far raised more than £110 for the annual appeal.
Youngsters aged from 11 to 18 years old on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) unit at the hospital, based in Southgate, North London used red, orange and green velvet to make the poppies and used buttons and sequins to add unique finishes.
Art is an important therapy for the young patients providing them with relaxation and enjoyment. The walls of the service are covered with bright and colourful murals designed and painted by children and various arts and crafts projects often raise money for good causes.
The unit is also an accredited exam centre and offers GCSE and A Level Art as part of its curriculum.
The adolescent in-patient service at The Priory Hospital North London is an age appropriate facility, situated in its own area of the hospital. There are fifteen beds with en-suite single room accommodation and communal areas. The service offers intensive in-patient and day patient care for the assessment and treatment of young people suffering from acute emotional, behavioural and mental health problems.
The adolescent service is youth orientated, focusing on the individual needs of the young patients. A range of psychodynamic, systemic, behavioural, cognitive and pharmacological approaches are provided.
Dr Hamilton McBrien, Medical Director and Consultant Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Priory Hospital North London said: “This was an innovative idea from Carole and the young people have embraced it and been working extremely hard. The poppies have proved very popular with staff and visitors and sales have been brisk.
“Recreational and therapeutic creative activity can be a very important component of a young person’s recovery into mental health especially when they are less able to verbalise their emotional difficulties and life stories.”
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