Supporting Mental Wellbeing through Creative Digital Platforms

Launch Event May 14th 2-3.30pm, Blackwood Miners Institute – all welcome!

Inside Out Cymru are delighted to launch their new creative arts project this month in partnership with Caerphilly Borough Mind that aims to use digital platforms to engage people who would like to undertake a creative arts course online in Caerphilly. We hope to enhance the quality of life of people through social, cultural and recreational opportunities, by using digital engagement tools.

As an arts and mental health charity, Inside Out Cymru is part of Gwent Mental Health Consortium funded by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and we deliver weekly creative arts workshops to people around greater Gwent to support their mental wellbeing. Many of the participants who come to our classes suffer from anxiety and depression and attendance can be erratic, depending on each person’s health each week. In one person’s words: “when we are there we are fine, when we don’t turn up we are not well”.

In response to this Gyda ti With You seeks to find ways to continue to engage and support current participants at home by making digital resources available to them when they are unable to attend, as well as reaching out to people who suffer from mental health issues in the county who are currently not engaging but would be interested in taking part from home.

We have a range of digital resources including filmed tutorials and demonstrations with our artists; weekly motivational bulletins to help keep people engaged and motivated and social media campaigns to reach more people.

The project has been designed in response to the needs of our participants as expressed through their current workshops, as well as from consultation with a range of community-based organisations around the borough who are working in the arts and health sector and/or engaging with hard-to-reach groups, including Caerphilly Arts Development team and Gwent Arts and Health. Staff from our Gwent Mental Health Consortium partners, Caerphilly Borough Mind, Growing Space and Hafal have all commented on the positive impacts this project could have on participants.

If you would like to find out more about the online resources please visit our website www.inside-out-cymru.org or email us at info@inside-out-cyrmu.org.