The Oxfordshire Storytelling project was led by members of the Oxfordshire Comms Group (Achieve Oxfordshire, Home-Start Oxford, Healthwatch Oxfordshire, West Oxfordshire District Council, Rethink Mental Illness, and Oxfordshire County Council.)in collaboration with the Old Fire Station. The project aimed to:

– Support partners to understand the storytelling evaluation methodology and how to put it into practice.
– Amplify the voices and perspectives of those closest to the work, informed by the Oxfordshire Mental Wellbeing Needs Assessment 2021.
– Use the learning emerging from the stories to develop our understanding of local needs, how change happens and inform future communications and support services related to mental wellbeing.

Over the course of 9 months, members of the Oxfordshire Comms Group3 were trained in using the Storytelling methodology, including how to collect and edit stories. They then collected stories from people involved in different ways in mental wellbeing support – parents, community researchers, staff members and volunteers. In June 2022, we brought together colleagues from a range of local partners to discuss the stories, focussing on what we could learn from them about mental wellbeing support.

Click here to read the report.

Click here to read the stories.

Looking for information or support for your mental health and wellbeing?

NHS 111 – Get free mental health advice and support from trained NHS advisers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Anyone concerned about their mental health, or that of a loved one, can call the 24/7 NHS Mental Health Helpline on 111

Oxfordshire Mind – call, text, or email and get free mental health support Text: 07451 277973 Call: 01865 247788 Email: info@oxfordshiremind.org.uk

Samaritans – Anybody who feels like they are struggling to cope, or just need to talk to someone, can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123

For more information on where to get help, information and support for suicide, self-harm, mental health and wellbeing go to: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/social-and-health-care/health-recovery-and-wellbeing/mental-wellbeing