Psychosis patients set sail on adventure therapy

A mental health organization is using sailing as a form of adventure therapy for individuals dealing with psychosis. This initiative is part of a larger project known as Voyage to Recovery. Twelve patients from the Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust are participating in this sailing journey, which will take them from Hartlepool to Ipswich, with their arrival scheduled for next Thursday. The trust has been running this project for four years and has reported that it significantly aids individuals on their path to recovery. One of the participants, Gary Hall, a 43-year-old man from Stockton, shared his struggles with leaving his home and how he only feels secure when he is outside with headphones on. When his mental health nurse presented him with the opportunity to join the sailing trip, he eagerly accepted. 'It's going to get me out of the flat, it's going to get me around other people who have the same problems as me, I'm looking forward to it,' he expressed. Gary has never been on a boat before, and he is thrilled about the experience. He began receiving support from the Early Intervention in Psychosis Team after experiencing a severe mental health episode that involved hearing voices. He recounted, 'It was getting to the point where it was people that had hurt me in the past, I was hearing their voices and I didn’t know what was going on. ' Gary is also passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding psychosis, as he has lost friends after revealing that he hears voices. 'They were thinking he's crazy, he's going to hurt us,' he said. He believes that avoiding people with psychosis only reinforces their feelings of isolation. Jodi McQueeney, an advanced practitioner with the Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust, emphasized the importance of early intervention for those experiencing psychosis. She noted that many individuals feel isolated and struggle to leave their homes. Jodi believes that adventure therapy can foster team building, resilience, self-belief, and increased self-confidence among participants. The Tees Esk and Wear Valley Trust is currently on the 10th leg of the Voyage to Recovery sailing trip. Jodi mentioned, 'People that have been on in previous years come back and report a massive sense of achievement. ' Another participant, Sarah Scott, who is 26 years old, is also excited about the voyage. She shared her experience of hearing voices and how she kept it to herself due to the stigma associated with psychosis. 'They think you’re going to hurt them, but you’re more of a danger to yourself, than other people,' she explained. Sarah is looking forward to the challenges of the trip, as she hopes to build her confidence and meet new people. This sailing adventure offers a unique opportunity for these patients to connect with one another and support each other on their recovery journeys.