Activities for mental illness in a psychiatric institution

[ritaPHIL]

Currently, I am a psychiatric nurse and is looking for help where I can download or surf for different ideas of activities (art therapy, music therapy,craft therapy, recreation activities, games, etc) that are suitable for my patients who have mental illness like schizophrenia, bipolar, substance abuse, etc. In the institution that I have work, the psychiatric nurse is the one responsible to make schedule of activities and to conduct activities daily for the residents/patients for the entire month. And, I am having a hard time making it due to little of activities that I know. Please.... Kindly help me and share some websites or notes that might help me.

Thanks in advance.

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

Suggest you do some searching on the web. Maybe check out the games at your local toy store, and wander the aisles of your local crafts stores.

[Nickytoto]

I've just come out nursing in a subacute inpatient mental health ward (my clinical placement for two weeks). I'd suggest paper and pencils for free drawing (it's very interesting when patients draw their hallucinations) and you can guess their mood by what colours they use. There were also plaster figurines with paints for the patients to paint, and then glue on magnets. It was something nice to give to their families. You could look up "craft activities for kids" in your local library as these don't usually need sharp objects.

One of the patients mentioned they used to have cooking classes... Maybe you could make chocolate crackles or something else that sets without an oven, and things that don't require sharp knives. Again you could look up "recipes for kids".

There was also a patient barbeque once a week which everybody contributed to by buttering bread, cutting vegies (with butter knives-- it was hard to do), cutting up cake, and handing out plates of cake etc. The patients seemed to love it.

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

One game-like activity I used on the inpt unit was a game called SPOONS. It is card game using spoons (or any other object as a substitute). In a way, it is like musical chairs done with the spoons and playing the card game is like the music. I have used it for both adults and adolescents.

4-6 people

2 decks of cards shuffled together

the number of spoons is ONE LESS than the number of people playing

(if you have 5 players, you have 4 spoons)

The object of the game:

The spoons are placed in the center of the table. The dealer (who also plays) shuffles the decks and then deals each person 5 cards (including self). The object of the game is for someone to make "5 of a kind" out of their five cards. When a person gets a "5 of a kind", he/she reaches quickly for a spoon at the center of the table. When the other players see that person reaching for a spoon, they all do too (regardless of what their own cards say). Of course, one person doesn't get a spoon. That is considered "a round" or play. The person who doesn't get a spoon sits out the next round. On the next round, all the spoons are returned to the center of the table, minus one more...and "new dealer" becomes the next person to the left of the old dealer in the new round. So, for example, round one, 5 players-4 spoons...next round, 4 players, 3 spoons....next round, 3 players, 2 spoons...you get the idea....till one player remains at the end of rounds. This game is much more fun when the cards are dealt fast and is played fast.

"The dealer" starts off the game and determines "how fast" the rounds are played. The dealer picks a card up from the deck and compares it to his five cards in his/her hand. Can he/she use it to build a "5 of a kind" in his/her hand? If not, he/she passes the card to the person on his/her left. If it can be used, he/she places that card in his/her hand instead and discards a card to the person to the left of him/her by giving it to him/her. Only 5 cards are to be held. That person on the left does the same with the card given and discards to the person on his/her left...and that continues around the players. The very last person who is playing places his/her discard face up on the table. That pile of cards are considered dead, and cannot be used.

"The dealer" doesn't have to wait for anyone...but continues to pick up a card from the original deck, one right after the other, "can I use it or not?", discarding/passing to the left. The fun is in the speed in which this is done and played. When anyone reaches his/her "5 of a kind"....it starts off the extra fun when that person then reaches for a spoon (signaling that he/she has the "5 of a kind")....and everyone else tries to quickly grab for their spoons in order to stay in the next round.

Very fun to play.

It is also a good game too from a clinical point...evaluating attention and concentration levels among members....as well as the ability to socialize.

Again, the game is called SPOONS...because of the use of spoons at the center of the table. But, any substitute object can be used....cotton balls, erasers, et cetera.

[rn/writer, RN]

You don't say what age group you are dealing with. If you're working with adults, you have to be careful that the activities don't seem too juvenile. Many games and therapeutic activities can be adjusted up from a kid level, and once people get involved they can loosen up a bit and show some enthusiasm. You just want to make sure that they don't see this as a challenge to their dignity.

Making collages using donated magazines and safety scissors is an activity I've seen patients enjoy. It can be free-form (using anything that interests them) or more directed (focusing on their hopes or fears).

Drawing or painting or working with clay are old stand-bys.

You can have people gather materials on an outside walk (or provide them yourself if going outside is not a good idea) to use in creating artwork or miniature scenes.

Pick a word and take turns coming up with song titles that include it.

Visit Girl Scouts or other group sites and look there for activities and games than can be adapted to the age group you're working with.

Don't forget Current Events. I'd stay away from anything too overtly political, but there are all kinds of other things that would make for interesting discussion.

You might do well to ask the patients what interests them. They could surprise you with hidden talents or hobbies. This has the advantage of getting the participants invested in the activity. And your poor brain doesn't have to come up with everything alone.

I wish you well. Let us know what happens.

[ritaPHIL]

Currently, I am handling adult. Thanks so much for the post.im going to use those activities you suggest. Barbeque once a week. That would be nice and allowing the residents to draw their hallucinations. I have learned then. ?

Will post next time once i have something in my mind or found something that is interesting...

[green12, BSN, RN]

We have had success on my adult inpt psych unit with Bingo, Pictionary (free-for-all style, the patients are more supportive of each other and no one feels like a loser), and Catchphrase. People of varying levels of physical and cognitive functioning are able to play.

[ritaPHIL]

hello.just want to share something.

last week i allowed my residents to cook their own meal.it was fun and some say that was their first time to cook food and some i found out were pretty good in cooking.thank you so much for the person who shared this idea to me.i think the residents had a good time last week, i believe so..... also, it was an opportunity for me to interact with the residents.

[alfa-sierra, BSN, RN]

ritaPHIL said:

Currently i am a psychiatric nurse and is looking for help where I can download or surf for different ideas of activities (art therapy, music therapy,craft therapy, recreation activities, games,etc) that are suitable for my patients who have mental illness like schizophrenia, bipolar, substance abuse, etc. In the institution that i have work, the psychiatric nurse is the one responsible to make schedule of activities and to conduct activities daily for the residents/patients for the entire month. And, I am having a hard time making it due to little of activities that I know.please....

I take it yours is a longer term facility in the Philippines? With that climate year round you can include some fun permanent outdoor projects (eg: garden or horticulture patch or aquaculture) and outdoor activities such as a croquet game that can occupy a group of 5 or 6. For indoors the Pictionary game can occupy also a small group and it's not expensive. All depends on the different cognitive levels you might have, help available and budget of course. You can also include practical skill teaching activities such reading/writing/collage/drawing, money budgeting (it can be a joke if people have no money at all), basic math, healthy choices in nutrition, and of course the obligatory signs and symptoms management, stress management, stretching exercises, current events, etc. You can actually make an extensive menu, let the patients choose and sign up for a few, and later rotate them every 3 months or so to keep them interested. Something like that. What part of the Philippines are you at? Have fun ?

[ritaPHIL]

alfa-sierra said:

I take it yours is a longer term facility in the Philippines? With that climate year round you can include some fun permanent outdoor projects (eg: garden or horticulture patch or aquaculture) and outdoor activities such as a croquet game that can occupy a group of 5 or 6. For indoors the Pictionary game can occupy also a small group and it's not expensive. All depends on the different cognitive levels you might have, help available and budget of course. You can also include practical skill teaching activities such reading/writing/collage/drawing, money budgeting (it can be a joke if people have no money at all), basic math, healthy choices in nutrition, and of course the obligatory signs and symptoms management, stress management, stretching exercises, current events, etc. You can actually make an extensive menu, let the patients choose and sign up for a few, and later rotate them every 3 months or so to keep them interested. Something like that. What part of the Philippines are you at? Have fun ?

You got me.yep im from Philippines particularly in davao. Yah I am working in a long term facility. Gosh, I've learned so much from what you said.tnx in a million. Are you from Philippines too?

Back to the subject, sometimes it's hard for us nurses to implement such activities for the reason of budget for the therapeutic program.

[keriq]

Hi there.

Suggest you buy a book specifically on 'groups'. Check out amazon online and do a search for groups.

Its good to think of your aim first perhaps, depending on your client group.. for example if you think your group would value support with self esteem .. then do a group to encourage that.. eg. split into pairs and ask each person in pair to interview other one and write notes before sharing info with group.. a kind of introduction to eachother.. sometimes much easier to talk about likes/dislikes etc of another person rather than your own.. could end with one thing they like about eachother..

or maybe its social skills that your group/clients need support with.. so much online regarding this one..

or.. relaxation.. lots of people just dont know how to relax..

or.. general coping strategies.. perhaps get each person to make a happy box.... decorate it as they wish.. then put in the box things that make them happy, little reminders.. like a photo or a poem.. or a positive affirmation..

Just for fun group/activity.. music.. everyone brings in a peice of music.. or asks a relative to bring it in for them.. and then they each play it to the group and say why they chose it..

So consider your clients needs.. and then maybe research based practice for those needs if appropriate..

hope thats helpful..

?

[ritaPHIL]

Was so pretty amaze that lots of you help me about this topic. I have learned so much from you guys.many tnx to all who give suggestions about the topic I have posted. Tnx a lot to all.

Peace.