Having recently done some work with the management team at the Royal Bolton Hospital around social media, it was great to read in the Bolton News that the hospital has recently opened the countries first internet café on a mental health ward.
The internet café was set up after requests from patients and carers, who wanted to stay in touch with their family and friends, look up information about their medication and mental health problems and exchange information on support groups and forums.
Karen Hodgetts, Assistant Director for Inpatients and Crisis Mental Health Services stated that she felt the internet was excellent for people to stay and feel more socially included and will complement existing treatments to support people with mental health problems during their recovery.
The NHS foundation trust which founded the café will be run by BAND a voluntary mental health organisation set up in Bolton to support people who live with mental health problems.
The café is open three afternoons per week Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Rivington Unit at Bolton with four computers available and an opportunity for patients to complete workshops on computer skills, online financial management, creative writing, safe web use and using music software .
