Brookhaven Retreat® LLC, a unique residential treatment facility exclusively for women with emotional and mental health challenges, and/or substance abuse issues aided in the climate change coalition campaign ‘For the Love Of …’ sponsored by the Women’s Institute in honor of the WIs Centennial Celebration.
The Women’s Institute of Great Britain was originally formed in 1915 to revitalize rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. After that, the organization’s mission has broadened and membership has grown to create the largest voluntary women’s organization in the United Kingdom. The WI plays a pivotal role in providing women with educational opportunities as well as opportunities to take part in a wide variety of activities and to participate in campaigns on issues that matter to them and their community. The year 2015 marks the organizations centenary. In recognition of reaching this milestone, Brookhaven Retreat offers its support to the WIs most recent campaign on combating climate change.
‘For the Love Of … ’ is the climate change campaign created by the WI that requests a simple answer to the question: “What do you love that is threatened by climate change?” Participants are asked to provide a written response to the question for publication on the Climate Coalition website in support of the campaign. As Brookhaven Retreat cares deeply for the natural healing environment, the staff recorded their responses and forwarded the responses for web publication. Brookhaven Retreat is fully committed to protecting the environment and reducing the carbon footprint of the facility. Founder Jacqueline Dawes sites the natural beauty of East Tennessee as one of the integral features of the facility. “Nature has a positive impact on mental health,” she says. “Mindful walking on the nature trails alters worrisome thoughts; by engaging all five senses, nature adjusts the mind to the present moment and allows it to focus on the true experience of the moment.”
Brookhaven Retreat will continue to raise awareness on the issue of climate change through appropriate use of outdoor therapies.
