Eureka! Institutional Repository

Nowadays, the number of people with mental illness is particularly high. Classical treatments are used, mainly psychotherapy and medication. Over the last few decades, there has been an increasing trend in the use of alternative therapies. The «horticultural treatment», the occupation of agricultural activities, is one of them. In Greece, this method is used by the Thessaloniki Psychiatric Hospital, which created the «Green Unit», aiming at the rehabilitation and reintegration of its patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of agricultural activities on mental health by studying the case of chronic mental patients in the rehabilitation program of the «Green Unit» of the Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki. In particular, the level of functioning (adherence to regulations, planning and structuring tasks, flexibility, etc.) has been studied. The sample consisted of two groups of patients: patients in the «Green Unit» and patients accommodated in the boarding schools of the hospital and not participating in the program (as a control group). Data was collected using the Mini-ICF-APP questionnaire, which is the international tool for this type of research. For the extraction of the results a statistical analysis of the data was performed with SPSS statistical version 23.0. The results showed that patients engaged in agricultural activities at the «Green Unit» have a better level of functioning in terms of mobility than those who do not participate in the «Green Unit». Additionally, the level of functioning of these patients improved after their annual employment in the program. The results of the research may be useful to mental health professionals, academics, patients' relatives and those involved in the care of chronic mental patients.