Unlike other mental health hospitals where the average length of stay is around six weeks, patients at Rowanbank Clinic will normally spend around three years undergoing treatment and rehabilitation before they are transferred to another hospital or discharged.

It is therefore vital that patients have access to the specialist care and treatment they require to give them the best possible chances of recovery.

Although providing drug and therapeutic treatment is obviously important, making sure patients are equipped with the practical skills and experience to help them cope after they are discharged is also vital.

They also need to have access to a range of facilities and activities as part of their overall treatment programme. Rowanbank is, therefore, equipped with a number of recreational and therapeutic facilities including an IT learning centre, therapy kitchen and access to a number of arts and crafts and gardening projects.

As patients will spend the vast majority of their time inside the building, they need to have access to exercise facilities. This will not only improve their overall physical health but will boost their mental health as regular exercise has been shown to reduce levels of stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression.

Rowanbank Clinic therefore has a sports hall, gym and a five a side football pitch.

Patients will have access to a range of general health services along with specialist mental health services delivered by psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, clinical forensic psychologists, social work and forensic psychiatrists which will include:

• treatment for mental illness (including access to drug, psychological and behavioural therapies and counselling)
• rehabilitation (including individual and group therapy, education, training, occupational therapy)  
• health improvement (including opportunities for physical exercise)