Building Resilience: an in-depth study in Social Enterprise and Mental Health

It has been argued that mental health interventions that are clinical and focus on individual outcomes are not always the most effective; and community embedded approaches should be considered as an alternative (Dishion and Stormshack 2007; Hart et al 2007; O'Mara-Eves et al 2013; Ungar 2008). However, little attention has been paid to the possible benefits of social enterprise within mental health discourses, spaces and research (Kidd et al 2015; Roy et al 2014). This research project aims to address this gap, by exploring how social enterprise can support mental health intervention. It will focus on community embedded resilience approaches. This project will work collaboratively with a range of members, within a social enterprise called 'Boingboing' (www.boingboing.org.uk). Boingboing is based at the University of Brighton and does research and practice in resilience. It may use Appreciative Inquiry as a participatory action research method (Cooperidder and Whitney 2001). In using this approach the project will produce, gather and evaluate rich data from key stakeholders who are currently involved in the social enterprise. The project might elicit in-depth understanding of what works best, and what improvements can be made co-productively to address pressing societal adversities. The proposed project could have a great impact on the way mental health interventions and social enterprise can be conceptualised within and outside of academic boundaries. It has the potential to promote good practice to social entrepreneurs, practitioners and researchers who operate in similar contexts. It could also influence the way policy makers invest in public health markets.