In Kyiv, on the territory of the Pavlovsk Psychiatric Hospital, the creation of a therapeutic garden is being started with the aim of restoring the mental health of Ukrainians who suffered as a result of the war. The idea belongs to the Danish urbanist Mikael Colville Andersen, who noted that garden therapy has been used successfully in Denmark and can help people recover.
In Denmark, therapeutic gardens are found in every city and have proven their effectiveness in rehabilitation. Mikael noted that such an approach is especially necessary for Ukrainians due to the high level of stress caused by the war, which led to the spread of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Recently, the "Toloka" campaign took place on the territory of the hospital, during which hundreds of volunteers participated in the preparation of the place for the future garden. The therapeutic garden will be divided into three zones, taking into account the steep slope of the territory. The first zone is for people with severe PTSD who avoid contact with the outside world. The second zone is intended for those who are ready to talk about their problems, and the third is for active activities and work with hands.
The coordinator of the "Toloka" campaign, architect Daryna Roschuk, said that they studied the experience of foreign gardens, where the emphasis is on manual work. In the garden, it is planned to grow vegetables and fruits that can be used in the hospital, as well as to create special areas for the development of sensory and motor skills.
Organizers plan to complete the garden by early June and invite anyone in need of support and peace to take advantage of this new therapeutic opportunity.
