A mindful city

While mental health often only becomes newsworthy in the case of a crisis or failing, there are numerous organisations working quietly away in the various communities of Bristol, tirelessly supporting the mental wellbeing of those around them.

One such organisation is Positive Minds, which has been working with people in Hartcliffe and Withywood for the last decade. Their particular brand of support combines one-on-one therapy with a ‘social prescribing’ activities, such as walking groups, acupuncture, art classes and coffee mornings.

“We do more than just signposting,” says Helen Gunson, manager of Positive Minds, going on to explain that the impact of social prescribing alone is limited if there is nothing to address the underlying issues. “We provide practical psychotherapy that aims to help clients understand their mental health issues, and help them in developing coping strategies and relationship management skills.”

Helen Gunson of Positive Minds runs a social prescribing programme in Hartcliffe

The charity uses short-term funding has run workshops in specialist areas, including willow weaving and counselling sessions for a local children’s centre. “Recently we received funding from Sport England to support people to get more physically active, which is important for supporting good mental health and resilience,” Helen says.

There are strong links between good mental and physical health, and Bike Minded, run by Bristol-based charity Life Cycle UK since 2010, uses bike rides to get people out of the house, socialising and improving their health. “If people want to talk about what they experiencing they are able to but there is no obligation,” says Becky Whitlock, communications officer at Life Cycle UK.

“We offer fun, sociable group rides of varying distances that get people moving and exploring the outdoors in supportive company, and we welcome all ability levels,” says Patrick Tumilty, Bike Minded’s co-ordinator. Those without their own bike can receive a discount on a refurbished bike from Life Cycle’s Bike Back project, which operates out of Horfield Prison, and can also receive a course of the charity’s free cycling proficiency lessons.

Bike Minded aims to get people out of the house and on their bikes to meet others

Community-based support can be a viable alternative to NHS therapies. Jess Brydon moved to Bristol in 2014 for a new job and found herself struggling with loneliness, isolation and work-related stress. She’d had counselling and tried various therapies but never felt fully understood. She also spent long periods waiting for appointments. “Being on a waiting list kind of makes it feel like no-one really cares,” Jess says. “You can’t see someone when you really need to, and by the time that you do the situation has often changed.”

Jess searched the web and came across Changes Bristol, who had no waiting list or need for a referral. “I was really anxious before my first session but I found it really welcoming. It felt safe and non-judgmental,” she recalls. Changes is based on peer model of support. Sessions are an open space for members to discuss issues affecting them in a safe environment with others who have experience of similar problems.

“Not only did people understand what I was going through, but we could relate to each other on a meaningful level,” Jess says. “I’ve finally been able to develop a support network in Bristol, and met some of my closest friends at Changes meetings.”

Changes Bristol offers group sessions with a peer support model

The organisation began as a single peer support group in 2004 and has steadily grown to run 12 weekly groups citywide from its base at Barton Hill Settlement. “We have groups in areas where there’s a lot of deprivation and people aren’t keen to talk about mental health. To run a peer support group in Hartcliffe isn’t going to be the same as in, for example, Horfield,” says Aya Zebrowska, Changes Bristol’s service manager.

While community projects continue to innovate, this doesn’t mean that Bristol’s medical community is being left behind. Dr Knut Schroeder, a Redland-based GP and lecturer at the University of Bristol has developed a smartphones app that assist students and young people in self-managing their own physical and mental health, including those struggling with self-harm. “The apps are designed for people when they’re at their most vulnerable. It can be hard to seek help, so an app can make that process as easy as possible,” explains Knut.

Dr Knut Schroeder has developed apps that help with mental health issues including self-harm

At a clinical research centre that is part of the University of Bristol, psychiatrist and researcher Ben Sessa is currently running some of the world’s first research trials studying the use of MDMA (also known as ecstasy) for the treatment of alcoholism. “I think that this is the most innovative form of psychotherapy of psychopharmacology,” explains Ben.

“The UK is absolutely leading the world on this. It’s a new paradigm for psychiatry, completely turning the traditional biological model on its head. The aim is to allow patients to address issues directly and cure them completely, rather than relying on medication day after day to keep symptoms at bay.”

Read more: A tale of two cities?