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Claire shares her journey of recovery at the Campbell Centre in Milton Keynes, reflecting on her time as a patient. Now working at the Centre as a Peer Support Worker, Claire shows how small, thoughtful changes to clinical environments can make a meaningful difference to patient wellbeing and hope for the future.
Life at the Campbell Centre
"My admission to the Campbell Centre in Milton Keynes was due to experiencing psychosis in the community, which could not be safely managed by the crisis and home treatment team. I was experiencing delusions, hallucinations, and thought disorder, which placed both myself and others at risk. I had seven admissions to the Centre in total, ranging from one week to two and a half months. Some were voluntary, while others were under the Mental Health Act
Overall, my experience was welcoming and supportive. I was able to take part in activities and psychological therapy, and staff helped me develop coping strategies to manage hearing voices and feelings of agitation.
During my stay, I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and only returned to previous levels of functioning after being placed on Clozapine medication in 2023. This transformed my life and has since enabled me to return to the Campbell Centre in a new role, working as a Peer Support Worker."
Creating healing environments
"Reflecting on my time as a patient, I can see how small environmental enhancements could further support patient wellbeing and recovery. I particularly remember the lovely pictures displayed in the communal areas, which helped me feel calm and at ease.
Expanding this approach throughout the wards, alongside a more consistent use of soft colours, and artwork could help create environments that feel less clinical and more homely and therapeutic.
Drawing on experiences from other services, I have seen how creative and recovery-focused design can foster hope. For example, when I was in a psychiatric hospital in York, there was a mural of a peacock where patients added messages of hope to its feathers when they were discharged. This gave current patients hope that things could get better and help them to work towards being discharged.
Similarly, comfortable communal furniture such as sofas or beanbags can help shared spaces feel more inviting, encouraging patients to spend time outside their bedrooms and engage with others. Access to outdoor areas is also invaluable; enhancing courtyards with plants, and opportunities to connect with nature can provide patients with fresh air and a sense of calm, particularly for those without leave.
Additionally, access to the internet through shared devices such as an iPad could help patients say connected with family and friends, reducing feelings of isolation during admission."
Giving back through peer support
"Now, as a Peer Support Worker, I draw directly on my lived experience to offer hope, understanding, and encouragement to patients. I use my insights as a former patient to support individuals through their recovery journeys, advocate for small but meaningful improvements, and contribute positively to the welcoming and supportive atmosphere of the Campbell Centre. Being able to give back to a place that played such an important role in my own recovery is meaningful to me."
