For Wendy Boyd, gardening is more than just a hobby and an opportunity to get her hands a little dirty.
It’s a pastime that allows her to keep her mental health issues at bay, including depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.
“It’s very therapeutic. When I’m watering the plants, I wash away my anxiety. I also talk to the plants. Too bad they can’t answer,” Boyd told the NOW from the kitchen table at Millers Way, a 10-bedroom duplex that provides long-term, 24/7 care to adults with mental health problems.
Facilities like Millers Way help residents identify goals – like becoming more independent and holding employment opportunities – and work towards them. Funded by Fraser Health, Millers Way is one of seven programs under the Pioneer Community Living Association (PCLA). Referrals are done through Burnaby Mental Health Services.
Seeing, hearing, feeling things
Boyd, 59, was diagnosed with schizophrenia in her early 20s. She had been in Hawaii at an Elvis concert when the room started to spin. A similar episode happened shortly after, prompting a visit to the doctor.
Not shy about her disorder, she said over the years she has seen, heard and felt a variety of things. At one point, she thought people had computer chips in their heads.
“Their foreheads were big,” recalled Boyd.
Another time she saw children dying around her, an experience she called “terrifying” and one that “just took over.” Twice it happened while she was riding the bus.
While medication has helped her condition, Boyd still hears voices from “the other person” every few days.
“It’s not a nice person, the other person. It says cruel things about people. I talked to my psychiatrist about it. He said, ‘It’s not you thinking it, it’s not you saying those things.’ He had to reassure me because I’m not that kind of person, to be that cruel to people,” she said.
A garden of love
Last summer, staff suggested starting up a garden in the backyard. Boyd, who’s lived at Millers Way since 2009, jumped on the idea and took it on as her passion project.
Besides tending to the garden, Boyd uses the produce – lettuce, beans, tomatoes, squash, parsley, chives, cucumbers, zucchini and rhubarb – to make meals and salads for her fellow residents.
“There is a growing body of evidence which supports the theory that a garden program – growing and caring for plants, spending time with others, being active outdoors and sharing healthy harvested produce – can contribute to a positive mental health outcome,” said recreation therapist Michelle Goodwin.
She added the garden, which doubled in size this past summer thanks to a Canadian Mental Health Association enabling fund, has alleviated Boyd’s stress levels and has given her more self-esteem.
With the arrival of cooler temperatures, Boyd has already begun planning next year’s harvest. The goal for 2017 is to sell any unused produce to the “sister” houses of PCLA.
“That would be kind of cool,” she said.
The garden program is part of a larger network of psychological-social offerings at the facility. Cleaning and meal duties are divvied up amongst the 10 residents and are done on a rotating schedule. When it comes to outings, they, not so much staff, get to choose the destination at regular resident council meetings.
“We’ve gone to Abbotsford for fishing, Victoria for a day trip. We go to Deep Cove for a picnic and Rocky Point for fish and chips, galleries, shopping and other community events. Basically they tell me what they’d like to do and we do it,” said Goodwin. “We design specific activities to help them overcome their illnesses and support their social and recreational pursuits.”
A family-like environment
According to Debbie Reid, manager of care at Millers Way and a psychiatric nurse of 34 years, more homes like it are needed. She said there can be a waitlist to get in, with an average stay of about five years at Millers Way.
“Some have been here much longer, it just depends,” she told the NOW, noting the longest someone has lived at the home is 11 years.
Speaking through tears, she said she has seen so much recovery and wellness within the program.
“It’s about their hopes and dreams. We work with them. The residents will tell you it is like a close-knit, family-type environment.”
She added staff have had a great success rate with those who have come through the doors. Many of the “graduated” residents come back to say hello or to have lunch.
“Success to me is not how quickly we can move them through this program and get them living independently. Their recovery plan is a focus on their individuality and is tailored to their hopes and dreams. Our success is their success,” Reid said.
