Let's Create for Mental Health
1
The Pitch
Problem statement
The Healthwatch of Shropshire 2020 survey found 64% of participants reported the pandemic having a slight or significant impact on their mental health. Since the pandemic we have been seeing an increase in the need for community based mental health support, and have been receiving a higher than ever before number of referrals. We currently have a waiting list to access our support. It is clear there is much to be done to catch up on the backlog of people needing to access mental health support.
Solution
Funding will support free weekly art workshops for adults in Shropshire living with mental health challenges. Our members are referred to our services from mental health partners e.g. GPs, mental health teams, social prescribers. Our members have a range of long-term mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, acute anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. Workshops are helping adults with mental health challenges to build confidence and self-worth, through having a creative purpose to feel able to take ownership of their future, and to decrease isolation by fostering peer support connections with a shared understanding of mental health.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
Working within our community for 30 years, we started as a Project Group within an NHS Day Centre. We have a deep understanding of the mental health needs of our community, and are ambitious in expanding our offering in order to help our members build capacity for the future - whether this is employment, education, or voluntary roles. Our 2023 member review found that 95% of members reported an increased wellbeing through attending Designs in Mind, 90% feel a part of a community, and 75% feel like Designs in Mind has given them a sense of purpose. We have connections and partnerships with local organisations e.g. food banks, Samaritans etc. in order to increase the pathways we can offer.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Artist Salary | £1,000 |
| Listen and Connect Support Salary | £1,000 |
Beneficiaries
96 people
Who will benefit
Expected impact
We anticipate this project will allow us to continue to sustain an increased wellbeing and confidence in our members, as well as to relieve the strain on statutory services e.g. GPs, A&E. Impact will be measured through member reviews, and we anticipate over the course of this project sustaining: -An increased wellbeing for over 90% of regularly attending members-Over 90% of members reporting feeling part of a community-Over 80% of members reporting an increased confidence through attending Designs in MindOver 70% of members saying that they feel creatively challenged. We anticipate that we will retain our number of 96 members referred to us through mental health services, and that these workshops will be open to all members.
Track record
"I started in Designs in Mind in May 2022. I have always been semi confident but Designs in Mind has definitely made a huge difference and has given me a purpose again. If I didn't attend DM, I would of used my GP more and the community mental health team. If Designs in Mind wasn't here I'm not sure what I would of done because there is no where else like this to go." "DIM is my favourite place to visit in my working week. My clients treasure their visits and I firmly believe that attending increases their employability."