We hosted schools events at Springfield Park to celebrate World Mental Health Day
On World Mental Health Day (10 October), the Trust and STEP (Master Developer at Springfield) joined development partners to host two local schools at Springfield Hospital as part of our celebrations.
In the newly opened area of Springfield Park, we first welcomed students from St John Bosco College to cut the ribbon on a youth shelter which was designed by former student Stephanie.
The new youth shelter, called ‘The Hangout’, was the winning entry from over 20 submissions, selected by a panel made up of Trust and Sir Robert McAlpine colleagues. The shelter now stands proudly in the heart of the park, providing a space for people to read, have a chat, or stop for lunch while sheltered from the elements.
Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and Clinical Director for Children and Young People’s Services & All-age Eating Disorder Services Dr Joel Khor said:
‘It is fantastic to be here to see another chunk of the Springfield Village open. As well as our new park area, we continue to build out hundreds of new homes and have settled in to our fantastic new facilities. Springfield is just the start, though, and we have so much to look forward to as a Trust across our other sites in the coming years.
In the afternoon, our friends from Fircroft Primary School joined us to plant bulbs in the new planters ready for next spring. Fircroft have joined us for a number of events including planting a special tree in the part and singing carols at our inaugural Christmas event.
The latest part of the park to open includes a pavilion café - which will open in 2025 - alongside an amphitheatre, the youth shelter, further play and exercise areas, a sensory garden, and much more.
The first 19 acres of Springfield Park opened to the public in summer 2023. Altogether, the park offers a number of exercise areas made up of different pieces of equipment that can be used to develop balance, strength, and coordination. You will also find three activity areas with stepping stones, climbing rocks, and balancing beams for a fun outdoor workout!
In addition to its wellbeing benefits, the park also has important green credentials. As well as adding to local biodiversity, the park has enabled the development of Springfield Village to be waste-free – it’s all been reused in the building of the park! The amphitheatre will use reclaimed brick from the construction of Springfield Village, while the ‘attenuation ponds’ are a sustainable rainwater collection system.
Finally, new signs have been installed on benches across Springfield Park, offering a simple yet impactful way to raise awareness of mental health support, especially in times of crisis. The signs display the Trust’s 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line (0800 028 8000) and the recently launched NHS 111 for Mental Health service.
Vanessa Ford, Chief Executive at South West London at St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “We understand that finding the right support during a mental health crisis can feel overwhelming. These benches provide a simple way to share important information about where to turn for help when it’s needed most. By placing these signs in a public space, we hope our local residents and visitors to the park will notice them and feel empowered to reach out for support, whether for themselves or someone else.”
The Mental Health Crisis Line is open to everyone – adults, children, and those who have never accessed mental health services before. You can call for yourself or on behalf of someone else. The NHS 111 for Mental Health service, introduced this year in South London, offers another way for people with urgent mental health concerns to get expert advice, clinical support, and guidance around the clock.
Find more information about the mental health support available in South West London.