Ma plante à moi is an innovative project at the Saint-Philippe Addiction Readaptation Centre of CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest. It helps residents recover by incorporating elements of nature into their rehab. Since summer 2022 each resident has been given a plant cutting as a symbol of their progress during their stay. Research shows that people who are in touch with nature are happier and enjoy better health. By taking care of their plants, residents both cultivate a sense of responsibility and increase their botanical knowledge. The plants also serve as an emotional and spiritual symbol of recovery, specifically the importance of putting down roots and building a solid foundation from which to grow. Clients must learn to create environments that are healthy and conducive to growth, for themselves as for their plants. The project offers a simple yet powerful symbol to help them manage withdrawal. The objective is to boost self-esteem, cultivate interests and hobbies, and provide a way to manage anxiety. Even if the plant has not visibly grown by the end of their stay, to date 100% of project participants have left with healthy, living plants. The plants can continue to serve as reminders when clients go home. Flowering and growth come with the care required, just like their own growth and recovery.

Project submitted by Annie Rouleau, Nurse Clinician, Assistant to the Immediate Supervisor

Other contributors: Amélie Roy, Nursing Advisor – Addiction, Stéphanie Blais, Educator, Ann-Renée Beaudoin, Head of Inpatient rehab, and Valérie Emond, Innovation Advisor