RBWH Foundation Secures Funding for Yoga Sessions in Adolescent Mental Health Unit

The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) Foundation has been awarded a $6,240 grant by the Harcourts Foundation to fund weekly Yoga and Mindfulness sessions for a full year in the hospital’s Adolescent Mental Health Unit.

These sessions are set to play a pivotal role in supporting the holistic recovery of young patients aged 14 to 18. 

The Adolescent Mental Health Unit, a specialised 12-bed facility, provides crucial in-patient care for young clients experiencing mental health challenges.

The RBWH medical team, which includes nurses, psychiatrists, and allied health professionals, strongly advocates for a holistic approach to mental health recovery.

The grant from the Harcourts Foundation will allow the team to continue offering these vital Yoga and Mindfulness sessions, fostering both physical and mental health benefits. 

“We want to treat the physical health, while addressing the mental health of our young clients, helping them to develop healthy habits,” explained Nurse Unit Manager Ray Taite. 

Yoga instructor Rachael Gibson, who leads the sessions, added, “It’s so wonderful to support these young people in developing a healthy relationship with their bodies through breathwork and movement practices."

"I'm grateful that there is funding to facilitate delivery of these important offerings to this vulnerable community.” 

The Harcourts Foundation, known for its dedication to enriching local communities, expressed its enthusiasm for this initiative.

Pauline Smith, Head of the Harcourts Foundation, noted, "The Harcourts Foundation was delighted to give a grant of $6,240 to the RBWH Foundation for a year’s Yoga, aligning as it does with the Harcourts Foundation’s commitment to enriching and supporting local communities." 

These weekly sessions, backed by the Harcourts Foundation, have become a valuable resource, serving over 300 service episodes annually.

They demonstrate the significance of collaborative efforts in delivering comprehensive care for young people undergoing mental health recovery.