Good to hear from Radstock Childrens Centre on an arts wellbeing programme that we provided match-funding towards in 2023:
Referral for all courses funded were invited from professionals working with women experiencing low mood, anxiety or depression in the perinatal period (from conception to baby aged 12 months).
MTMS Radstock – September – December 2023 –
10 attendees. 9 attendees reported that the course had a positive impact for them.
Impact & learning:
The EPDS score has improved for most of the ladies who attended. From this score it suggests the My time My space has improved their mental health.
Providing a group chat via What’s app has enabled all the course attendee to have peer support from each other; they often used the What’s app group outside of the course times.
The What’s App group has enabled the ladies to meet outside the group and continue their peer support.
The health visitor contributed to the group positively; Lucy made a real impact in supporting mums and their babies with any health concerns and regularly checked in the participants outside of the group setting. Working in a multi-agency way, we were able to provide by the best support and outcomes for the ladies and their babies throughout the group. Lucy was able to provide a calm and safe space for the ladies to express any health concerns and managed them appropriately.
Kerry, the Health and Wellbeing artist was directly employed by the Children Centre for this course, which worked well. Kerry put great time into providing and supporting the participate with their art and to ensure the art was finished. Kerry was able to provide learning through the wellbeing journals which all participates used weekly. The journal was able to provide support and guidance for the ladies to be open and honest in the group.
For 1 of the ladies attending the course, the end EPDS score has increased from the start; she currently has other factors which are currently affecting her mental health and therefore My Time My Space enabled her to recognise what is currently going on for her and to support her to access further professional support. Furthermore, this lady has a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. The MTMS course was able to support her needs by having knowledge of her disorder, by providing a space in which she was able to leave the group if she felt it was needed and focusing on the positives throughout the group.
At the start this participate found the group difficult, overwhelming, and loud however as the sessions went on, with support from the group leads and the other participates, she able to stay in the room for the duration of the session, complete beautiful artwork and be an active member of the group, sharing ideas, thoughts, and feelings in the room and on the What’s App group.
Case study:
Participant course aims:
Start –“ To make connection with other mums, support for my mental health and to be able to have a safe space to talk in. “
End – “The best parts about the group has been, meeting a group of mums, having some me time but knowing my baby is close by and being well looked after. The activities, the leaders, a great place for advice, vent, laugh and get lost in something which is not baby related. K is amazing, M has been brilliant, and L is wonderful. It’s just been excellent.”
H’s EPDS score pre was 15. Once she had completed the course, her EPDS post score was marked at 5 suggesting My Time My Space has contributed to positive outcomes regarding her mental health.
H participated well throughout; she was an active member of the group and was able to seek support and advice as well as being able to support other participants in the group.
H was able to gain advice from professionals in the group and was very grateful for their additional support. She felt comfortable to ask for further support which the children centres were able to offer her.
At the start of the course, H found it difficult to focus on the art activities however as the sessions went on, she was able to focus more and had a clearer view of what she wanted to achieve and then was able to creative and complete some lovely art pieces.
Our Time, Our Space, Radstock October -November 2023 –
5 attendees, all of whom reported that the course had had a positive impact for them.
Attendees’ Feedback:
Relaxed Group
Staff are complimentary and uplifting.
Welcoming staff with a good ear
Really enjoyed creative project
Gained confidence.
Able to share thoughts and feelings.
Incredible staff.
Staff are passionate and a real asset to the course.
Case Study:
Participant course aims:
Start – To have time to myself and destress.
End – A very relaxed and welcoming group. I built upon my confidence and felt able to share within the group.
L participated well throughout the course and attended every session. She joined in, sharing conversations with other members of the group building good peer relationships.
L has been an active member in continuing the peer relationships outside the group, offering to other members of the group the opportunity to meet and continue their relationships.
L completed the art projects involved in the course and enjoyed most of the activities. At time it appeared L became overwhelmed with making decision for her artwork however once she was supported by staff, she was able to take time to calm and not overthink it to complete the project.
L’s EPDS score pre was 12. Once she had completed the course, her EPDS post score was marked at 16.
Even though this is a slight increase in score, it suggests the group has enabled L to be open and honest about what is going on for her, in a safe and welcoming environment. L expressed she felt safe in the group and felt able to confident to share how she is really feeling.
Our time our space has enabled L to recognise the support that she needs for her perinatal mental health. The course has provided the first step for L to feel confident to seek further support and increases the chance of positive outcomes for her and her baby.
Our Time, Our Space, Radstock – January – March 2024
4 attendees, all of whom reported positive change.
Impact and Learning:
The EPDS score has improved for all the ladies who attended. From this score it suggests the Our time our space has improved their mental health.
The course has enabled them to feel empowered and supportive and have a safe space so share their thoughts and feelings. One of the mums shared on the last session “The course has made her feel OK again.”
Providing a group chat via What’s app has enabled all the course attendee to have peer support from each other; they often used the What’s app group outside of the course times.
Reflections were offered by participants that they wished the course was longer (this is repeated by all participants of these courses). Our Time, Our Space courses are currently only offered in the Radstock area. Feedback has been consistently offered that this would be better if offered in other locations, or in one, more centrally located venue, to enable access to families living outside of the Radstock area.
General Learning:
The referral level and take up for Our Time, Our Space is generally quite low, as opposed to My Time, My Space, which is always very high. We need to learn how to market OTOS better and support professionals and pregnant people to refer / self-refer in a more timely manner.