Staff and service users at Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust have celebrated the timely opening of the Spirituality Space at the Haven Unit of Longreach House.
The space has been especially created for use by all visitors, service users, staff, and relatives, as well as by people of all religions or none, and recognises the need for well-being for the whole person - that is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
It also recognises that some individuals need a space to pray, meditate, or reflect.
Plans to develop the space started around 12 months ago and ran concurrently with the Enhancing the Healing Environment project funded by the King's Fund, that was also underway at the unit.
Created in a conservatory situated in the courtyard at the Haven Therapy Unit, the colour schemes and materials were chosen with service users, continuing the unit's long standing ethos of service user involvement.
Arts for Health Cornwall and Isles of Scilly also worked with the trust commissioning three Cornwall-based artists to work on specific pieces. Dena Martin created a three dimensional light installation, using the theme of the constellations and the cosmos as her inspiration.
Yvonne Carter hand-painted vertical blinds evoking water and air and David White made an altar/table using the proportions of the golden rectangle, thought to have spiritual qualities. This piece, made from oak, has some discreet carved ornamentation reflecting the patterns on the blinds, and also provides valuable storage for objects that people may need in using the room.
The result is a small quiet, peaceful space that seats two or three people comfortably with the ability to have privacy from the courtyard if wanted without the loss of light.
Chaplain Kathy Smith said: "Having a space dedicated for spiritual purposes within the inpatient setting highlights the Trust's commitment to working with a holistic approach that sees people as having mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and environmental needs. We are delighted to have this restful space for the use of everyone.
"By its very existence, this room affirms our commitment to treating people as whole persons, with spiritual needs as well as physical, mental, emotional and environmental ones. This room is a space for quietness, for prayer for those who pray, for meditation and for thinking, reading and looking within oneself. It is for everyone."
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