Mental Landscapes of Malla: ‘Lapinlahti is for all of us’
Malla Laakso-Nyström’s blog series “Mental Landscapes of Malla” shares thoughts and experiences of rehabilitation at Lapinlahden Lähde. In the first part, Malla, who is seriously ill, tells what it was like to arrive in Lapinlahti as a work experimenter.
As I step through the gate to Lapinlahden Lähde, I stop to watch the old trees swaying quietly in the wind. I can hear their leaves rustling soothingly, as if welcoming me. The greenery enfolds me in its welcoming embrace, and I feel the tightness in my body giving way a little. I pause for a moment and take a deep, calming breath. This beautiful place is calling me to feel good.
I have come to Lapinlahden Lähde for a work trial, which is related to my vocational rehabilitation. I work in various tasks as an organisational worker. I am very excited, because a few years ago, when I was working as a specialist in an organisation, I dreamed of working in Lapinlahti. My path did not lead me here in the way I had hoped, but now I am part of this working community, at least for a while, and I am very grateful for that.
I became seriously ill in early 2023. In the blink of an eye, my life was never the same again. I’m in a life extension and I feel this is the most precious time ever. Life is not a given for me in any way. I have a long scar on my chest. My left leg doesn’t work like it used to, but I can walk through the gate to Lapinlahti and keep going.
I have been to Lapinlahti several times before and I know that in this environment no one sees me through my scars or my disability. Here, people are treated as human beings in all their humanity. And I think that in modern times there is an increasing need for to Lapinlahti.
Everything that happens in the mind affects the body
A human being is a whole. We are mind and body in one package. In finer terms, we are a psycho-physical-social whole, where everything affects everything else. Everything that happens in the mind affects the body. Everything that happens in the body affects the mind. Our holistic well-being consists of mental well-being and physical fitness, as well as the relationships that are important to us.
I think that without a healthy and functioning mind, it is difficult or challenging for us to function in our lives. If we don’t hear or deny the messages of our mind, the body starts to symptomize in different ways and we are no longer holistically well. We need an environment and factors that support our well-being, recovery and refreshment in order to live a balanced life.
I believe that the biggest challenges to holistic well-being in our time are rush, performance and results. Not forgetting loneliness. Too often we are seen through our performance and our external factors, and that can make us feel lonely. Through my own serious illness, I have faced these issues in many ways. From the perspective of a person in recovery, the above factors are a big challenge.
One should be seen and heard as one’s own naked and imperfectly complete self, without biases and expectations. To be part of a community where one can be visible as oneself and breathe freely. To feel worthy just as you are, without the pressure to perform and deliver. When you are recovering and rehabilitating from a serious illness and living with severe pain, words like rush, performance and efficiency do not fit into the equation. Recovery cannot be forced, nor can the body be rushed or made to perform rehabilitation or healing.
You can support your body and mind to feel better and do things that support your rehabilitation and recovery, but you can’t force it. Environment and relationships play a role in rehabilitation. They can be supportive of rehabilitation or work in the opposite direction. Everything affects everything.
Everyone has the opportunity to enter the gates of Lapinlahti and be welcomed
At the beginning of the year, when I was looking for a work experience placement, I thought about my values, my overall wellbeing and my well-being. I applied to several places, but most of them didn’t give me any answers. That tells its own story about the state of our working lives. Despite my illness and the complication of my injury, I want to be part of the work community. I am a committed and motivated employee. Even if a paid job is not immediately possible, I want to contribute to a work community that is based on values and ideals that are important to me. Participation has always been close to my heart and I have tried to promote it in my previous jobs.
When I received a pleasant email from Katja from Pro Lapinlahti Mental Health Association and went to meet her, I knew I was in the right place. It was easy to be and breathe. I was met with joy and open-mindedness and warmly welcomed into the work community right away.
Walking through the corridors of the former hospital in Lapinlahti, I admire the art, meet different people and enjoy the delicious smells coming from the café. All this plays a big role in my overall well-being and rehabilitation. I believe it is the same for many others. It’s a place that exudes peace, beauty and a sense of calm. The park surrounding the former hospital pauses for a moment, with the sea lapping in the background. The beautiful and dignified old trees and gardens with their roses, shrubs and green lawns bring the mind and body into a state of relaxation. This oasis in the middle of a bustling city invites us to stop and feel good.
As I was writing this, I was thinking about what an incredibly beautiful place we have. A place that offers art, culture and mental wellbeing for everyone. Everyone has the opportunity to step through the gates of Lapinlahti and be welcomed. From the perspective of a rehabilitated person, this place has a great significance for my future. A light has come on in my eyes again in a different way.
A place like this must be made possible in the future.
Lapinlahden Lähde is for all of us.
– Malla –