Free box of toiletries for hospital patients with mental health issues

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new initiative so everyone admitted onto its adult mental health wards will now receive a free box of toiletries.

The boxes of toiletries, branded Fresh Start, contain everything a person needs for the first few days in hospital and have been created by people who have themselves used inpatient or community mental health services – and who are now in recovery. These boxes will help the people who are admitted on to Surrey and Borders mental health wards each year, many of whom arrive without essential toiletries such as a toothbrush, comb or soap.

Admissions usually take place with little time to prepare and some people are not well enough to plan ahead for their personal needs during their ward stay.

Julia Chambers, who has worked closely with Surrey and Borders Community cccupational therapist, Bryonie Walsh, on the launch of Fresh Start, said: “The Fresh Start boxes will help to promote dignity and hope for people who have been admitted on to the wards and we believe they will benefit from knowing that these boxes have been prepared by others who are further into their recovery.”

Two thousand Fresh Start boxes will be handed out this year. The Fresh Start project is being funded by Surrey and Borders Partnership.

The idea to give people a small box of toiletries on admission to a mental health ward and involve those with experience of a mental health illness in producing the boxes came from Julia Chambers, who had herself used Surrey and Borders services.

The idea was piloted on working age adult wards under the name ‘A little box of soap and stuff’ in 2010. Surrey and Borders, Let’s Link and Comic Relief funded the pilot which won a STARS Gold award. Evaluation of the project highlighted positive clinical outcomes for both the people in the occupational therapy groups preparing the packs and those receiving the gifts on the wards. The success of this pilot has led to the launch of the Fresh Start project, which has been expanded to also include older adult mental health wards.

Commenting on the impact of the Fresh Start project on the people in the recovery groups, Bryonie Walsh, said: “The project has provided people with a meaningful and rewarding productive activity which promotes socialisation and achievement. This has helped to increase people’s motivation, self-esteem and confidence, supporting their recovery journey well.”

The new Fresh Start boxes - which feature a butterfly logo - provide people with a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. They also include a note from those who have prepared the boxes, explaining that the box is a gift and has been put together by people who have used mental health services.

Ms Walsh added: “Fresh Start linked with all the positive messages we wanted to focus on: using the toiletries gives a person a fresh start to each day and coming into hospital should be seen as a fresh start, the start of things getting better, additionally this is a fresh start for the project.”

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of specialist mental health and learning disability services for people of all ages in Surrey and North East Hampshire and drug & alcohol services in Surrey and Hounslow.