A NEW innovation from Dorset Healthcare has seen the introduction of a 'Calm Box' to assist mental health care support.

The addition is part of the Safewards Interventions project being developed by Professor Len Bowers and this month the team presented its strategy at a prestigious national conference.

The new Safewards strategy involves introducing alternative forms of intervention within acute mental health inpatient units in a bid to reduce the incidence of violence and aggression from patients and the extent to which staff must intervene.

The trust’s mental health team took the strategy to a recent national conference to showcase the positive impacts the Safewards model is having on patient behaviour throughout Dorset.

Louise Orchard, clinical lead in adult mental health at Dorset HealthCare, said: “We have come up with this strategy to help lower the instances of aggressive behaviour within mental health inpatient units and so far the result has been very positive.

"The Calm Box is a selection of equipment that can be used by patients to help lower their levels of arousal and agitation.

"Equipment within these boxes can include stress balls, soft blankets, iPods which have a selection of soothing music on, herbal teas, cuddly toys and bubble wrap.

“The introduction of these boxes is part of a range of interventions we are using to achieve the ultimate goal of changing ward culture for the better and promoting a recovery based ethos.

"It is hoped these interventions will reduce the number of conflict incidents within acute mental health inpatient units and also lower the level of restrictive interventions used.”