Patients find road to recovery through boxing
Patients at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust are embracing weekly non-contact boxing as a vital tool in their therapeutic recovery back to health.
Off The Ropes, who set up the programme to help young people and adults with their mental health, is partnering with the Trust to bring a non-clinical approach to treatment.
The programme was created by psychiatrist Patrick Davey, and Occupational Therapist, Warren Dunkley who is a former professional boxer.
Their passion for mental wellbeing and their love of sport sparked the idea to develop a wellbeing model which they have shared with patients at Lambeth Hospital. They believe boxing can build connections, bring a sense of belonging and combat feelings of isolation.
Natasha, 22, who has seen her upper cut and jab get better over the last two years says it has helped her with her anxiety.
I feel better afterwards. My confidence has grown. I’m still a bit shy but am getting more confident. It’s made me want to learn more new things - and I’ve made good friends too.
To fully take part in a session, Warren says a participant needs to engage mentally and physically – and that the discipline instilled can translate beyond the ring.
“Any physical activity that can be introduced on to a ward is a benefit. With boxing, it ticks so many boxes. It’s not just the physical part of it – there's the mental concentration too. A lot of boxing is one-to-one coaching on the pads. You get to really interact with your coach.”
Lambeth Hospital patient Bradley, 37, says the sessions have ignited a passion for a sport he first tried aged 25.
When I’m boxing, I just go with the flow and stay in the moment. I’m connected to the coach. I was attracted to the physical aspect, but I’ve noticed a difference in my mental health too. It’s like medication.
Ekow, 25, who has just started the sessions says he stops worrying when he’s boxing. “To anyone thinking of trying it, I’d say just go for it.”
Deborah Milburn, Lead Occupational Therapist at Lambeth Hospital says the partnership with Off The Ropes has been a great success. “Boxing is known to have a cathartic effect on anger and stress and our patients have reported improved mood, better concentration and raised self-esteem. Sometimes setting the simplest goal, like just turning up, can be the start of the journey to better mental health.”
Joel Williams, Activities Co-ordinator at Lambeth Hospital says the sessions put the service users in a good place. “Sometimes the coaches set quite challenging goals and it’s amazing when they reach them,” says Joel. “Somehow they find it within themselves.”
Occupational Therapist for the Trust, Jess Pinson, feels that the programme’s success lies in how the patients view the activity. “It’s a community. It’s just something they really want to do, and something they enjoy,” she says.
To help a patient continue with their rehabilitation when they leave, the Trust works with Sporting Recovery - a charity that helps people to live more independently – to place them in local gyms.
“The boxing sessions have given some of our patients an interest to follow when they leave us,” adds Jess. “Some of them have started going to local gyms which they weren’t comfortable doing before.”
To help a patient continue with their rehabilitation when they leave, the Trust works with Sporting Recovery - a charity that helps people to live more independently – to place them in local gyms.
“The boxing sessions have given some of our patients an interest to follow when they leave us,” adds Jess. “Some of them have started going to local gyms which they weren’t comfortable doing before.”
Warren concludes that “Boxing is therapy. I know the benefits of boxing for both physical and mental health. Having been a boxer, I struggled when my career came to an end. It’s the routine and structure that boxing gives you, the sense of achievement – and just the overall feeling of wellbeing when you’re engaged in one of the sessions.”
