Imagining mental healthcare: engaging underserved local communities in Kent (INTERACT)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Kent
Department Name: Kent and Medway Medical School
Abstract
The UK is facing two major crises: economic and health, which impact on the mental health and wellbeing of everyone. Adding to this, experiences of public services have worsened in recent years and regularly fall short of people's expectations: increasing budget constraints have resulted in cuts to healthcare funding. These, in turn, led to reduced accessibility and availability of healthcare with unprecedentedly lengthy waiting lists. Consequently, people have had to reassess their expectations of their healthcare system, reorienting themselves and their everyday life towards more and more precarious futures. Despite low satisfaction with healthcare services, an overwhelming majority of the UK population still expresses unwavering support for a national health service (NHS). To capture people's emotions and re-imaginations of what the future NHS might look like, we propose INTERACT, an ethnographic enquiry underpinned by arts-based, creatives methodologies, with a genuine collaborative ethos and an inclusive interdisciplinary approach to co-producing knowledge around mental healthcare.
INTERACT will synergise creative, scientific and applied perspectives of mental healthcare by amplifying the voices of those hardly reached in research. The interdisciplinary INTERACT team, led by Dikomitis, a medical anthropologist, is comprised of 1 medical anthropologist expert in creative ethnographic methods (Bonanno), 3 psychiatrists (Rodda, Shergill and Tracy), 1 media scholar (Declercq), 2 creative arts therapists working in Kent mental health services (Le Fleuve and Richardson) and 2 project partners (Turner Contemporary and the Kent-wide community mental health trust, KMPT).
In INTERACT, Kent local communities will have an equal voice in the conversation of research. As such, INTERACT public engagement activities are designed to maximise the involvement of mental healthcare services' recipients and benefit from a bottom-up approach to community involvement. INTERACT researchers will engage members from underserved communities who face systemic mental health challenges. Our geographic focus is Kent, which faces particular challenges of deprivation and limited access to public healthcare services. Addressing these challenges are at the heart of the vision statement of new Kent and Medway Medical School, where the INTERACT team is located.
We will work with four distinct communities, offering perspectives across the life course and from different demographic backgrounds, i.e., 1) young people; 2) new mothers; 3) older adults; and 4) migrants. Through a series of creative workshops, led by drama therapists working in mental health services, and using ethnographic methods, INTERACT will engage 4 groups, with 10 representatives from these underserved communities to capture their lived experiences. Through these activities, underserved communities will become meaningful stakeholders by communicating their needs and interests for the future of mental healthcare in Kent. Participants will be paid for their time involvement, following best practice in patient and public involvement (PPI), and will be recruited through the PPI team at the Kent-wide community mental health trust, the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT). The workshops will be hosted in the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate, which has a track record of socially-engaged arts-based practice, and has been a driving force in the regeneration of the East Kent area.
Insights from the workshops will be disseminated through a touring exhibitions, public talks, graphic media (zine), podcasts, Tik-Tok videos and other social media used by the INTERACT communities, a policy brief and a journal article.
INTERACT will synergise creative, scientific and applied perspectives of mental healthcare by amplifying the voices of those hardly reached in research. The interdisciplinary INTERACT team, led by Dikomitis, a medical anthropologist, is comprised of 1 medical anthropologist expert in creative ethnographic methods (Bonanno), 3 psychiatrists (Rodda, Shergill and Tracy), 1 media scholar (Declercq), 2 creative arts therapists working in Kent mental health services (Le Fleuve and Richardson) and 2 project partners (Turner Contemporary and the Kent-wide community mental health trust, KMPT).
In INTERACT, Kent local communities will have an equal voice in the conversation of research. As such, INTERACT public engagement activities are designed to maximise the involvement of mental healthcare services' recipients and benefit from a bottom-up approach to community involvement. INTERACT researchers will engage members from underserved communities who face systemic mental health challenges. Our geographic focus is Kent, which faces particular challenges of deprivation and limited access to public healthcare services. Addressing these challenges are at the heart of the vision statement of new Kent and Medway Medical School, where the INTERACT team is located.
We will work with four distinct communities, offering perspectives across the life course and from different demographic backgrounds, i.e., 1) young people; 2) new mothers; 3) older adults; and 4) migrants. Through a series of creative workshops, led by drama therapists working in mental health services, and using ethnographic methods, INTERACT will engage 4 groups, with 10 representatives from these underserved communities to capture their lived experiences. Through these activities, underserved communities will become meaningful stakeholders by communicating their needs and interests for the future of mental healthcare in Kent. Participants will be paid for their time involvement, following best practice in patient and public involvement (PPI), and will be recruited through the PPI team at the Kent-wide community mental health trust, the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT). The workshops will be hosted in the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate, which has a track record of socially-engaged arts-based practice, and has been a driving force in the regeneration of the East Kent area.
Insights from the workshops will be disseminated through a touring exhibitions, public talks, graphic media (zine), podcasts, Tik-Tok videos and other social media used by the INTERACT communities, a policy brief and a journal article.
| Title | INTERACT Creative Workshop Outputs |
| Description | Over 100 individual pieces of artwork were generated by participants engaged in creative expressions of mental health in INTERACT's workshops. Using a combination of paints, pastels, crayons and pens on paper, The study's participants explored their understandings and perceptions of mental health and shared their hopes for the future of mental healthcare in response to a series of questions. Numerous creative expressions used words alongside imagery to communicate participants' lived experience of mental ill health. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The artworks were treated as an important contribution to the study's data collection and were analyzed alongside the focus group discussions and one-to-one interviews to inform our key findings. In turn, these key findings contributed to the AHRC cohort's review and policy document. A curated selection of these artworks were displayed at the INTERACT exhibition in the Front Room gallery of The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, Canterbury, provoking numerous visitor reactions recorded in the exhibition's guestbook. |
| Title | INTERACT Ethnographic Illustrations |
| Description | Alongside the INTERACT 'Zine', Dr Letizia Bonanno produced a series of artworks depicting participant engagement in the INTERACT research. These artworks also featured in the INTERACT exhibition and were further utilized in the INTERACT book that features an in-depth discussion of the research conducted, the participant artwork produced and the other creative outputs from the study. Dr Bonanno's artworks include: 'Listening' - an ethnographic illustration depicting young people from Kent's ethnic minority communities participation in a podcast workshop discussing their perceptions and cultural understandings of mental health, Gravesend, February 2024 'Talking about mental health' - an ethnographic illustration depicting participants taking part in a creative workshop on mental health at the University of Kent, March 2024 'Discussing creative expressions: what is good mental healthcare?' - an ethnographic illustration depicting study participants discussing their creative expressions of what mental health means to them in a creative workshop at the University of Kent, March 2024 'Memory and Experience' - an ethnographic illustration depicting Sikh women in a discussion group sharing stories of migration and cultural heritage prompted through old family photographs in Gravesend, July 2023. Other artworks produced by Dr Bonanno that feature exclusively in the book include members of the Sikh community congregating and praying at their local Gurdwara, images of the INTERACT research team and an additional illustration depicting Sikh women in a workshop and focus group session. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The INTERACT exhibition at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge engaged in the region of 6,000 people. One exhibition attendee commented on the artwork in the exhibition's guestbook and expressed their joy at "seeing my people talking about mental health". |
| Title | INTERACT Graphic Novel Excerpt - What Happened to Grandma? |
| Description | Further to his participation in the podcast workshops that explored the experiences of Kent's young people from ethnic minority backgrounds and their cultural understandings of mental health, Kristian Feyisetan contacted the research team to enquire about engaging further with the INTERACT study. Engaged by the creative research methods, Kristian sought to understand more about research's aims and objectives and offered his artistic skills. Whilst studying Art and Psychology at undergraduate level, he liaised with the research team to produce 'What Happened to Grandma?' a short excerpt from an imagined graphic novel based on the experiences of a number of older adult participants with the aim of raising awareness among teenagers and reducing the social stigma faced by those living with a dementia diagnosis. Using his fine art skills, Kristian was able to capture a day in the life of an older couple living with a dementia diagnosis and the challenges faced by sufferers and their carers, humanizing their experience in a way that has helped engage and raise awareness of the condition among a younger audience . |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The artwork was put on display as part of the INTERACT exhibition at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge in Canterbury, throughout January and February of 2025. A visitor reached out to the research team via social media to express their interest and desire to read the rest of the graphic novel, asking where they could access the work in full. |
| Title | INTERACT Zine |
| Description | The INTERACT Zine, with artwork provided by Dr. Letizia Bonanno, served as a participant information booklet in the recruitment phase of the study. It was distributed both digitally and in print to potential participants to inform them about the research project, the team and helped to address any questions they might have about becoming involved in an informal, creative way. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The zine helped the research team to effectively communicate with and inform potential participants about the nature of their involvement with the study, their rights and how to obtain further information. It was distributed in print and digital form to approximately 50 relevant local organizations and lead to the successful recruitment of participants. |
| URL | https://research.kent.ac.uk/chss/wp-content/uploads/sites/2430/2024/02/INTERACT-Zine-Updated.pdf |
| Title | INTERACT: Creative Explorations of Mental Health in Kent |
| Description | An exhibition of participant artwork produced in the INTERACT creative workshops, photography, ethnographic illustration and audio-visual media presented alongside information that described our creative approach to the co-production of knowledge around perceptions and understandings of mental health in Kent's underserved communities. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | The INTERACT exhibition in the Front Room gallery at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge on Canterbury's High Street generated a footfall in the region of 6,000 visitors who engaged with the research findings and artwork on display. A guestbook collected feedback to measure impact and engagement. Here is a selection of the anonymous comments left over two books: "Food for thought!" "I have found this exhibition space calm, peaceful, socially connected and community - orientated. The mental health topics it approaches, can be in contrast, turbulent. I appreciate the opportunity of being in this space of openness and dialogue. I find it heartening to see silence and stigma around mental health being replaced by communication and understanding. It is a great contrast with my personal experiences, to see struggles and challenges transformed into contributions to advances in understanding, and positive changes." "Great exhibition - so important to hear the voices of everyone who has take part - thank you!" "I think it is so important that everyone has their say about mental health and this display is incredible!" "This is a very thoughtful exhibition." "Thank you for your research work with the community. As someone who struggles with their mental health but is otherwise operating from a position of structural privilege, I am really glad to see this intersectional approach and the centering of voices and communities less often heard." "This is a lovely and important exhibition. I love the creativity of this project and hope that lots of mental health professionals come and see it!" "When I look at these paintings, I almost cry out loud. Because I can deeply feel the way these people feel." "Seeing my people talk about mental health has filled my heart with joy." "I thought this was really cool and liked that it featured art from local people - really building a sense of community that breaks down the distance that can exist between art and visitors." "Very insightful work of social and health issue affecting the local community. I really enjoyed the ethnographic visuals and photos and the careful framing of the pictures. Well done to the team." "This is an excellent exhibition. I loved the diverse activities and outputs about mental health." "Congratulations! Super exhibition!" "I hope this exhibition makes your day brighter as it did mine." "Love the artwork. Simple but abstract enough to provoke thought and inspire ideas. Thank you." |
| URL | https://www.instagram.com/p/DEowFi2gH7U/ |
| Description | OUR FOCUS The INTERACT research team worked with young adults, new mothers, older adults and members of ethnic minority communities in Kent. Together, they explored creatively how they think about their mental health and how they see the future of mental healthcare in Kent. The INTERACT team includes anthropologists, media scholars, psychiatrists and creative practitioners. We focussed on these four hardly reached communities in Kent, as the voices of older adults, young people, new mothers and people from ethnic minority communities are not often enough included in national debates on mental health. It is important to amplify these voices to ensure mental health care addresses the needs of these local communities so that tailored services are available and can be accessed by everyone. RECRUITMENT STUDY PARTICIPANTS Through focussed and tailored recruitment campaigns, with intensive immersion in specific communities, we recruited a diverse participant group of migrants, young people and older adults. Despite promotion through local community organisations and the Kent-wide mental health trust, it was particularly difficult to recruit and maintain relationships with new mothers. It was a challenge to engage this specific group in the creative workshops and follow-on discussion groups because of the demands caring responsibilities of new mothers, gatekeeping by relevant community groups and the social stigma attached to perinatal mental health, which potential participants perceived as a risk to their involvement. New mothers who did participate in INTERACT, did so exclusively through one-to-one interviews. Going forward, earlier involvement of particularly seldom-reached groups at the development and design stage of studies may increase meaningful and extended engagement. INEQUALITIES IN MENTAL HEALTH Health inequalities across the UK affect life expectancy, quality of life, health conditions people may experience, the care that is available, and whether the care is context-bespoke and appropriate for the person's needs. Through our ethnographic, creative and qualitative research, we focussed on perceptions and understandings of mental health in four underserved population groups in Kent: young people, migrants, older adults and new mothers. We identified a range of barriers to access and/or adhere to mental healthcare and views on how to improve and design sustainable mental healthcare. For instance, particular illnesses were perceived to be prioritised over others, thereby creating a hierarchy of illnesses that serves to position mental ill health as a lower priority, until it becomes a crisis. Our data reflect the well-known social, economic, gender and ethnicity health inequalities, and these prioritisations and inequalities are influenced by factors including an individual's social networks, place of residence, the resources available in that area, and the cultural competence, level of training and number staff available when attempting to access those resources. In addition, while there is a focus on individual with a mental health condition, those in the wider network can be neglected leading to an onus on the carer to be informed and advocacy fatigue. We also collected several examples of individuals unable to advocate for themselves, reliant upon social networks, particularly in the older adult demographic. Participants expressed significant challenges in accessing mental healthcare in Kent, particularly in scheduling appointments with GPs and managing the financial burden of taking time off work for ill mental health. POSITIVE EXPERIENCES Some participants shared some positive experiences with mental health services in Kent. For example, one young woman (29) described how moving into supported accommodation through 'Rethink Mental Illness' significantly improved her situation. The organization helped her engage more with the community, facilitated her food shopping, and connected her with other services like Mind, where she met people and began socializing. These experiences highlight the potential benefits of support services when they are accessible and effectively integrated into the community. There are further examples of resourcefulness and creativity at a community level through organisations, religious and cultural groups that may enhance access to social and health care or provide a health and wellbeing benefit, for instance, Age UK's 'COGS' group. However, framing access to care as something that depends on the individual, their social network (including family and friends) or community effort can unintentionally place responsibility on the need for resilience and place unprecedented demand for access to underfunded or unavailable socially prescribed care rather than addressing the need for broader structural change. These inequalities in care can impact on health, quality of life, and the ability to live well, not only for the individual, but also their families and the wider community. Tackling mental health inequalities, social isolation and adverse childhood experiences are important to prevent mental health problems in adults. Some participants noted how issues with their mental health were rooted with issues in their childhood and that if that was dealt with sooner, their current state would not be the way that it was today. Overall, participants expressed a strong desire for therapeutic interventions that delve into childhood issues to foster healthier adult outcomes. CHALLENGES AND FACILITATORS IN IMPROVING THE FUTURE OF MENTAL HEALTHCARE Mental healthcare professionals can perceive including seldom-heard community members in conversations about the future of mental healthcare as challenging. Our INTERACT findings demonstrate that it is not only possible to include new and diverse voices, but that such data/insights are very valuable. The INTERACT team worked with participants around the following topics: awareness of mental health conditions, the language we use to talk about mental health, who is approached when we encounter challenges with our mental health. The INTERACT study identified a number of challenges and barriers to accessing mental healthcare across all four demographics. We found a wide range of attitudes and behaviours towards ill mental health. 'Trust' was an important factor in how, when and with who people talk about mental health. We shared experiences which highlighted a gap between what people want to say, how they say it, and what they do not say when they talk about mental health. (1) DISTRUST OF RESEARCHERS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND FEELING UNHEARD: • There are well-established age, gender and ethnicity health gaps that impact illness hierarchies. Furthermore, those in the wider network can be neglected and carers reported feeling a lack of care for the burdens being placed on them. People reported that their experiences were dismissed or not believed by health care professionals, leading to their needs not being prioritised and a lack of access to appropriate care. People may feel like imposters, believing that they do not deserve care and resources because their condition or situations aren't viewed as a priority. This can discourage them from seeking or engaging with care until it becomes a crisis. • Participants described the positive impact of sharing their stories with others in an effort to raise awareness and destigmatise mental health conditions. Mental healthcare is often perceived and portrayed as an indulgence, a burden and costly, which can lead individuals to think of themselves as unworthy of receiving care. • We must address hierarchies of illness and inequalities in access to support those who need it. • Representation matters. Being able to relate to people in perceived positions of power, or those offering support, proved of particular importance to those from a migrant and ethnic minority background. 'It is quite difficult for people from ethnic minorities to trust people who are not from their community' (Jamaican man, late 20s) 'You have to feel like you have been listened to' (White British man, early 50s) 'I need to be heard, not pushed away without being acknowledged' (Sikh woman, late 60s) 'They just appear like they are listening' (Ukrainian migrant, mid 30s) '[When mental health research is spoken about] you do not see many Black peopleI just never thought it would apply to me' (Ghanian woman, early 20s) 'There is a genuine want for listeningI have to do a bit of research before on how to present in front of them so they take me seriouslyHow can I shape what I say so they can put me where I want to be?' (Punjabi woman, mid 20s) (2) CULTURAL UNDERSTANDINGS OF MENTAL HEALTH: What became apparent when we spoke to people across all four demographic groups about how they relate to mental health is how their social identities shape their mental health experiences. The cultural attitudes of their communities and the social constraints people experience indicate trust as an important factor in who people choose to talk to and highlights a gap between what people want to say, how they say it, and what they don't say when they talk about mental health. The social stigma of mental ill health and negative discourse of care, specific cultural attitudes and barriers (taboo, stigma, lack of knowledge and awareness, and culture-specific language and communication differences) influence how people think about their mental health and subsequently impact if and how they access mental healthcare, no matter the demographic. Participants shared many of their cultural understandings that weaved into the theme of family as they cited their families and the cultural communities they are embedded within as illustrations of cultural understandings. The influence of one's family featured strongly across all demographic groups, and it was noted parent-child relationships tend to shape openness towards mental health discussions. In general, participants from migrant and ethnic minority backgrounds felt that mental health was not understood in their home cultures. This is for a multitude of reasons but one of the possible reasons for this silence is because of the stigma associated with mental health. This stigma manifests in various ways, including discomfort and misconceptions, such as linking mental health issues with madness or viewing them as signs of weakness. While there was an assumption of cultural binaries (mental health in the UK good and everywhere else bad) participants felt that their cultures also created a supporting environment that they did not experience in the UK. This lack of community support in the UK was seen as detrimental to mental health, despite more open discussions about mental health issues. Having community support structures is definitely something that can affect mental health and some participants felt that they had less access to community in the UK and found it hard due to the lack of diversity, however second, third generation immigrants did not necessarily relate to this. Mental health perceptions are deeply rooted in cultural contexts, which can both hinder and help mental health awareness and treatment. A reluctance or feeling that it is unacceptable to discuss mental health was evident across all the groups, but was most prevalent among those of an older generation. Religion proved to be a significant topic related to mental health support. Most participants shared information about religion and spirituality without being prompted, suggesting that it takes a place of precedent in their communities even if participants were not religious. Many participants, especially those from African backgrounds, felt that in their cultures, poor mental health was some kind of spiritual attack, and so the best way to deal with this was to "pray it away" (Young Nigerian woman, late teens). It was also suggested by a young man of Punjabi heritage that the Sikh community also viewed ill health of any kind as the fault of the sufferer, that they "must have done something to deserve it" and that going to the Gurdwara to pray would help alleviate suffering. However, participants discussed religion as an important part of their lives, there were many different ways participants felt that their religion supported their mental health. Specifically, participants who experienced poor mental health highlighted religion as integral to their recovery. Culture and households have emerged as a very important theme, especially the relationship that children have with their parents, and if it is talked about at home, creates a pre-disposition to talking about Mental health. When asked the question "How is mental health understood in your culture?" a few people responded with laughter and a number of older adults and younger women from the Kent Sikh community explained that mental health something openly discussed. A group of older Sikh women used the social practice of singing a 'Boliyan' or folk song to express challenging circumstances in their lives which may lead to ill mental health. (3) GENDER AND MENTAL HEALTH: In relation to gender, themes emerged, particularly around the differences of how men and women handle mental health. Participants felt that men often do not discuss their mental health, focusing instead on self-reliance. It would have been beneficial to understand in-depth why there was a reliance on the self and not external support systems. When men do talk to their friends, they avoid using terms around mental health instead preferring casual conversation to talk about their problems and tend to talk about random topics instead of talking overtly about mental health. Additionally, it was noted by a number of participants that friends might disappear for a while or stop contact altogether after a diagnosis or mental health episode, a form of 'social death'. When it came to how women dealt with their mental health there was a focus on friendships and confiding in their friends which helped them. However not all participants felt like this and preferred to not talk to their friends about their problems as they feared judgment or maybe thought their friends may not understand their situation or have the relevant experience to support them. (4) A DESIRE FOR SOCIAL CONNECTION, ACCEPTANCE AND UNDERSTANDING: 'The women in our community, they just do not have the vocabulary to express about their illnesses' (Sikh woman, mid 40s) 'In my in-law's family, nobody knew where there were services apart from the GP, and the majority of them, they haven't gone. And the majority of them have had some sort of breakdown in their lifetime. And they conceal that.' (Sikh woman, early 70s) 'We need more voices, more experiences of people saying, 'this is how this issue showed up for me and this is how it could have happened' and then we all can understand from each other.' (Japanese woman, early 20s) 'People do not seem to understand what you actually go through. Sometimes you need someone with experience to be there who are going through the similar things that you are going through.' (Punjabi man, early 30s) 'I did not speak to other people because you feel as if there is something wrong with you' (White British man, late 60s) 'I think they don't want the larger community to know. It's okay for close friends and close family. But it shouldn't go outside.' (Punjabi woman, late 60s) 'They say I bring shame and embarrassment, people in the community talk if I say anything outside' (Punjabi woman, early 30s) 'When I was first diagnosed and I told people, I lost friends and family because they did not know how to cope. They did not know how the hell to talk to me even though they talked to me the day before' (White British woman, early 70s) |
| Exploitation Route | The INTERACT study observed a number of implications for research and practice and has compiled the following recommendations : • Undeserved communities should be empowered by all researchers and included at the research design stage to ensure relevant, tailored and pragmatic approaches to engagement are offered to specific cohorts. • The majority of participants were unaware of mental health research, so the first step to increasing participation is to inform. To inform we must go to the communities, this means attending community and cultural events and visiting schools. However, it is not enough just to go; researchers must be thoughtful in their approach. For example, when researchers go to a school or community group, it should be to engage and collaborate, not just give a lecture. • Regarding representation and cultural and competency, it is important to address cultural factors. Representation bridges that gap between research and communities, we are able to bond over shared experiences and develop that trust. Researchers who do not share identities with their target population should take the time to learn independently and be curious about the new culture. • When researchers communicate about their research, we must make sure to use accessible, clear and concise language. • Utilizing social media is a great advantage to do work with young people, it is advisable to join an existing social media platform, have a active, entertaining and engaging account and leverage existing networks and connections. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Creative Economy Healthcare Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://research.kent.ac.uk/chss/research-projects/interact/ |
| Description | Starting at the beginning of 2024, the INTERACT research team worked in collaboration with local and regional community organisations, existing networks of community representative contacts and KMPT (the Kent-wide community mental health NHS trust) to raise awareness of the study and recruit participants from our four underserved target groups; 1) young people; 2) new mothers; 3) older adults; and 4) migrants to the study. The INTERACT team recruited study participants through engagement with over thirty organizations in Kent that specialize in mental health. This included national organizations such as 'Rethink' and 'Mind', alongside organizations based exclusively in Kent such as 'SpeakUp' and 'Umbrella Centres'. INTERACT partner KMPT promoted the INTERACT study through the Trust's networks. INTERACT researchers also attended the Local Mental Health Network meetings for Kent. These meetings are a facilitated platform for service users, carers and stakeholders to participate in discussion and co-produced problem solving around locally evidenced issues on mental health where INTERACT's research team were given a platform to share the project's information to find participants. Finally, social media (e.g., LinkedIn and X) was utilised and a snowball technique was used whereby participants already in the study informed others who may be willing to take part. INTERACT successfully raised awareness of mental health research through these channels and encouraged involvement across diverse and intersectional underserved groups to offer perspectives across the life course from the county of Kent. Potential participants were provided with information in the form of a 'zine' about the study, leading to the formation of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group, informed consent was obtained prior to engagement. Our study design could not have been realised without the invaluable contribution of our PPI group. PPI refers to the active participation of community members, service users, and those with lived experience in the research process. The purpose of a PPI group is to make sure our research is grounded, relevant and appropriate. Their contributions were instrumental and invaluable to this project, and we would like to thank each and every PPI member for their commitment, dedication, feedback and contributions to this project which would not exist without them. The INTERACT study engaged directly with over 60 people from four target underserved groups in Kent, each facing unique yet intersecting challenges. Due to the challenges of recruitment and the need to seek perspectives from all four demographic groups across the county, it was decided to bring together all four groups into a first study event, a creative workshop and discussion group, on 26 March 2024. Over 20 people from underserved groups across Kent came together at the University of Kent to participate in a creative workshop, reflective practice and focus group discussion with a communal lunch provided. The INTERACT team conducted three focus groups comprised older adults, migrants and young people (one of whom also identified as a migrant and new mother). In addition, one person chose to participate in a one-to-one interview, and another chose not to participate in the discussion. Together, we explored perceptions and understandings of mental health, perceived barriers and hopes for the future of mental healthcare. Over one hundred pieces of original artwork were produced using innovative creative research methods that blended an ethnographic approach to capturing lived experience with to ensure meaningful engagement and the co-production of knowledge with representatives from different demographic backgrounds across Kent's underserved communities. In continuing to work with our four key groups, we next focused on young people from migrant and ethnic backgrounds and were able to develop a partnership with a school in North Kent who supported us in recruiting young people. We also used social media and online community networks within the University of Kent such as the BAME staff network. We conducted two podcast workshops in February 2024, one at a secondary school in Northwest Kent with 16-18-year-olds and one at the University of Kent for students, staff and community members. Each workshop was led by an experienced audio documentary maker who taught participants practical podcasting skills. Afterwards participants joined discussions about mental health and wellbeing of young people in Kent. These conversations were recorded, and participants were tasked with creating their own podcast episodes based on our conversations and the skills that they learnt. The research team completed 20 semi-structured interviews throughout March 2024 with participants aged 16-30 from diverse migrant and ethnic backgrounds living in Kent. Potential participants were provided with information about the study, and informed consent was obtained. After consenting, participants were invited to an online semi-structured interview with a member of the research team. The interview topic guide included demographic information, life context, cultural ideas and questions exploring the barriers and facilitators to engagement in mental health research. Interviews averaged 45 minutes and were audio-recorded, transcribed, pseudonymised (participants were asked to select their pseudonym, if no name was selected then one was chosen by the research team). Between March and October 2024, three new mothers and one carer participated in one-to-one semi-structured interviews. This was below our target for engagement with this demographic group that proved particularly hard to reach and careful, pragmatic consideration must be given to how we can improve and ensure engagement among women with lived experience of perinatal mental health challenges in a creative, arts-based practice context. Working closely with Age UK's Thanet and Herne Bay and Whitstable branches to create a PPI group of older adults, we recruited a team of 8 community members included those with lived experience and their carers. We conducted two PPI meetings over the course of the project in August and September 2024 and worked collaboratively to create and improve our study. PPI members provided feedback on recruitment strategy and materials, topic guide and dissemination strategy. Blending an ethnographic approach to capturing lived experience with action research methodology, this PPI group originated an idea for raising awareness of the challenges of living with a dementia diagnosis and destigmatising the condition among younger generations through an illustrated children's book or graphic novel. Capitalising on the initial phase of the INTERACT research project, the team put together an engagement event for the general public and key stakeholders in collaboration with our partner, Turner Contemporary. The INTERACT Showcase was held at Turner Contemporary in Margate on Friday 19 April 2024. Attended by over 120 people, the event provided opportunity for members of the public to directly engage with and question researchers, service providers and healthcare professionals. It invited members of the public alongside study participants and their carers, representatives of Kent's community organizations, psychiatrists, researchers and post-graduate students, mental health professionals and mental health service providers. The event engaged the audience with the initial research findings, sparking debate and offering fresh perspectives on the research presented, that informed the future direction of research. Many attendees, including community organisations, provided contact information so that they can be informed about INTERACT's findings and establish ongoing relationships with researchers, including KMPT's research community, to become involved further with mental health research, the shaping of mental health services and modes of access going forward. In delivering and documenting INTERACT's engagement with Kent's underserved communities, the research team was able to collate and analyse the research activity to share the findings widely amongst the participants, the research community, mental health practitioners and service providers and the public through a series of creative and academic outputs. These outputs are still ongoing. INTERACT's creative outputs were designed to communicate with a wider, non-academic audience. Art is a universal means of expression prevalent in all cultures. We all express ourselves differently. The diversity of cultural and social expressions, from the stories we tell and the rituals we follow to the songs we turn to, and the sports and leisure activities we engage with all carry meaning and value. A key aim of INTERACT was to amplify the voices of community members who are rarely included in conversation about mental healthcare services through socially engaged, arts-based practices. The creative workshops encouraged participants to explore their imaginations of the past and future, sharing their stories in their own way. The INTERACT activities resulted in creative knowledge that will now be used to raise awareness and spark conversations about mental health and the future of the NHS. A selection of the study's creative outputs include: • Graphic novel: The excerpt 'What happened to Grandma?' uses the stories and experiences of dementia sufferers to connect with younger audiences, highlighting the challenges of living with a dementia diagnosis • Punjabi songs: A group of Sikh women who are first- and second-generation migrants from the Punjab in India answered the question 'what is mental health for you?' with a folk song. The lyrics of such 'Boliyan' songs describe their life and mental health stories. • Podcasts: A collection of stories from Kent's underserved and previously unheard communities sharing diverse mental health experiences focused on the experiences of Kent's young people from ethnic minorities, new mothers and migrants. The final podcast in the series on discussion mental health in later life is forthcoming • Sade Safer (Our Journeys): A film about mental health research in the Punjab, India and Kent, UK, which combines anthropology and psychiatry, led by Professor Lisa Dikomitis and Professor Sukhi Shergill • INTERACT book: We are currently working on a book which brings together our findings and creative outputs • Exhibition: Our preliminary findings along with these key creative outputs were exhibited at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge in Canterbury throughout January and February of 2025. Attracting a footfall in the region of 6,000 people, The Beaney's Front Room allowed members of the public to engage with participants' artwork and gain an understanding of ethnographic art-based research practice and how important it is to work with local diverse communities to truly understand the issues and improve mental healthcare outcomes for all. Throughout the exhibition we engaged visitors by encouraging them to 'Ask a Psychiatrist a Question'. This phase of the project seeks to extend engagement beyond the lifetime of the exhibition by encouraging people to engage with us online and via social media platforms to find the answers to their thoughtful and insightful questions. Participants in the INTERACT study reported a positive impact from their involvement with the study. Many communicated that they had enjoyed taking part, that they felt listened to and included, felt able to express themselves in a new way, and recognized the significance of their contributions, both for themselves and others. In developing the PPI engagement model towards an action research methodology, the INTERACT research team achieved meaningful connections with participants that facilitated a shared sense of ownership of the project and led to fresh insights through genuine co-production. The insights derived from this study have broader implications for mental health research practices and mental health service providers. They underpin the necessity to design care in collaboration with those who face health and care inequalities, for culturally sensitive approaches, enhanced community outreach efforts, and inclusive research practices. By addressing these factors, the research seeks to ensure that mental health studies accurately reflect the diverse experiences and needs of all communities. The INTERACT also study observed several implications for research and practice and has compiled the following recommendations that may impact the efficacy of future research. BUILDING TRUST, RAPPORT AND COMFORT, CREATING INCLUSIVE RESEARCH SPACES: • Collaborate with trusted organizations and support groups for outreach and publicity • Involve individuals with lived experience in research design and decision-making from the beginning • Ensure researchers are approachable, listen, and understand participants' needs • Provide research options that are sensitive to individual comfort levels and needs • Undeserved communities should be empowered by all researchers and included at the research design stage to ensure relevant, tailored and pragmatic approaches to engagement are offered to specific cohorts. • The majority of participants were unaware of mental health research, so the first step to increasing participation is to inform. To inform we must go to the communities, this means attending community and cultural events and visiting schools. However, it is not enough just to go; researchers must be thoughtful in their approach. For example, when researchers go to a school or community group, it should be to engage and collaborate, not just give a lecture. • Regarding representation and cultural and competency, it is important to address cultural factors. Representation bridges that gap between research and communities, we are able to bond over shared experiences and develop that trust. Researchers who do not share identities with their target population should take the time to learn independently and be curious about the new culture. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH: • Utilizing social media is a great advantage to do work, particularly with young people. It is advisable to join an existing social media platform, have an active, entertaining and engaging account and leverage existing networks and connections that uses a variety of multimedia formats (videos, podcasts, infographics) to make findings engaging and accessible. • Publish results on dedicated websites, social media, and email listservs to keep participants informed. When researchers communicate about their research, we must make sure to use accessible, clear and concise language. • Utilize social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook) to promote studies and share results • Leverage celebrities or public figures to reduce stigma and increase participation • Use NHS staff and trusted community figures to introduce researchers and recruit participants • Advertise in community spaces (GP surgeries, hospitals, public transport) for broader reach PARTICIPANT ENGAGEMENT AND CHOICE: • Offer multiple feedback options (interviews, writing, online) for participant convenience • Make research participation options flexible in terms of format and location • Engage through various advertising methods (posters, flyers, QR codes in GP offices, hospitals) • Co-design research in safe spaces developed pragmatically and collaboratively in a culturally sensitive way with the individual and/or specific groups. Safer spaces are dynamic, context dependent, accessible, and trauma informed. TRANSPARENCY AND IMPACT: • Clearly explain the research purpose, potential impact, and long-term goals to participants • Address confidentiality concerns and ensure participants feel safe sharing honest feedback • Show how research findings will be used to create tangible changes in services |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | AGE UK |
| Organisation | Age UK |
| Department | Age UK Herne Bay and Whitsable |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We have collaborated with two AGE UK branches in County Kent: Herne Bay-Whitstable and Thanet to recruit study participants |
| Collaborator Contribution | These AGE UK branches worked closely with the INTERACT team to recruit participants and promote the study. The Herne Bay and Whitstable branch provided access to their training room (for a small fee) to conveniently hold the focus groups and creative workshop on site, enabling participants to attend in familiar surroundings. |
| Impact | Extending the methodological concept of PPIE through an action research model of iterative co-design and collaboration, the INTERACT study's engagement with older adults facilitated by Age UK helped increase participants for study and dissemination activities. Focus groups: INTERACT conducted two focus groups with older adults in this location. The first (n.8 participants) explored who older adults talk to about their mental health, where they seek care, what kind of services they access and the support they value, what helps or hinders access to services and their confidence in being heard and understood vs dismissed when raising issues related to mental health. When reflecting on their lived experience and what their discussion had revealed to them about their experience, perceived needs, hopes and expectations for the future, participants agreed the most important outcome for them was to raise awareness of older adults' mental health issues (particularly dementia) among younger generations and an effective way to do this would be to produce a children's picture book to be read by the children of those living with a diagnosis to their younger children. Creative outputs: The Age UK creative workshop was held after an initial focus group with a total of n.4 participants (half of the original focus group attendees were taken ill and unable to participate) who produced narrative works guided by an art therapist which explored the previously agreed theme of raising awareness of living with a dementia diagnosis among younger audiences. Four individual stories were produced that reflected a common theme of learning more about the condition and techniques for how best to live with a diagnosis. When reflecting on their creative practice in the workshop, and their previous discussions, the participants suggested their idea could be taken further a their discussions of lived experience be adapted into a graphic novel aimed at raising awareness among the younger generation. This led to a collaboration between INTERACT researchers and a young ethnic minority participant in the research study who had expressed an interest in using his artistic skills to become more involved in the project. The resulting illustrated story "What Happened to Grandma?" was put on display as an excerpt from a graphic novel at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, Canterbury between 11 January and 23 February 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) |
| Organisation | Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The INTERACT team worked together with KMPT's Research and Innovation Department from application to dissemination stage. When conducting research with participants in focus groups and semi-structured interviews, the INTERACT research team included a short series of KMPT related questions to provide insight into services users' engagement with KMPT services. We asked: - Are you aware of KMPT and have you had any interaction with KMPT's services? - How did that experience make you feel? - How do you want to feel after interacting with KMPT? The findings from our research will be provided to inform their PPI and community research engagement strategy. The INTERACT team also offered KMPT the opportunity to extend their outreach activity through a recruitment stand for engaging INTERACT's participants and other key stakeholders with their research community at the INTERACT showcase event held at Margate's Turner Contemporary gallery on 19 April 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The INTERACT team worked together with KMPT's Research and Innovation Department from application to dissemination stage. Building on KMPT's established strengths in working with academics from a wide range of disciplines, KMPT offered their support from application stage due to the alignment between the INTERACT study's research objectives and the trust's vision of positioning the needs of local, underprivileged first in conducting research that best serves the needs of the local community and improving health outcomes for our population. INTERACT's approach also aligned with KMPT's current R&I strategy of co-production. To date, KMPT have contributed staff time and resources to: - present their research community engagement strategy at INTERACT's dissemination event held at Turner Contemporary on 19 April 2024 - offer exhibition space at a forthcoming KMPT, service user and community dissemination event, organized in collaboration with local mental health focused NGO, EK360 - support with dissemination of project findings through forthcoming events - incorporate INTERACT's key findings into their PPI and community engagement strategy |
| Impact | Presentation "Community Involvement in Research at KMPT" made by KMPT's Research Partnerships and Engagement Lead, Holly Till and Research Community Involvement Facilitator, Nat Farley at INTERACT's showcase event held at Margate's Turner Contemporary, 19 April 2024, followed by a question and answer session with an audience of over 100 key stakeholders (comprised of members of the general public including service users and their carers, community representatives, mental healthcare practitioners and service providers, researchers and representatives of local NGOs). |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge in Canterbury, Kent |
| Organisation | Canterbury City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | In providing a curated selection of participant artwork, photography, illustration and audio-visual media from the INTERACT study along with a summary of our approach and findings, the research team was able to bring a unique and engaging exhibition to The Beaney's Front Room gallery. INTERACT's collaborative approach to the creative co-production of knowledge was a perfect fit for The Beaney's ethos of a therapeutic museum that can help improve health and wellbeing for the local community and out of county visitors alike. Working in collaboration with The Beaney's Health and Wellbeing Programme Coordinator, INTERACT's researchers ensured a multi-sensory experience that encouraged audience engagement with extra audio-visual media through QR code links and provided an interactive 'citizen science' element of the exhibition. INTERACT provided printed postcards that invited attendees to 'Ask a Psychiatrist a Question', the answers to a selection of which will be printed in the INTERACT book and be filmed for dissemination across INTERACT's social media channels. This also served to extend audience engagement and the life of the exhibition beyond its display in the Front Room. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Beaney dedicated staff time to ensuring the exhibition space was monitored, and that all questions for INTERACT's team of psychiatrists were forwarded weekly. They also tracked and measured audience feedback, passing on important comments collected in a guestbook. |
| Impact | The INTERACT exhibition at The Beaney generated a footfall of approximately 6,000 visitors who engaged with the research findings and artwork on display. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Creative Workshop at The University of Kent |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The core focus of the study was a series of creative workshops held at the University of Kent in March 2023 and in collaboration with Age UK (Herne Bay and Whitstable) in September 2024 that invited participants from our target groups to join in a collective arts-based creative workshop exploring their perceptions of mental health and mental healthcare. Both workshops were led by qualified art and drama therapists. The sessions encouraged participants to express their lived experiences through painting, drawing and focus group discussions in response to a series of questions. The questions were designed to understand peoples' experiences of mental health and wellbeing, their perceived needs and understandings of mental health and wellbeing versus their engagement with mental health services, and their future imaginings of how to improve the situation and the services they use or want to use. The University of Kent INTERACT creative workshop was held for members of underserved communities on 26 March 2023. A total of n.21 participants attended the day with most attendees identifying as intersecting underserved groups (i.e. young person from a migrant or ethnic minority background, new mother from a migrant or ethnic minority background and older adult from a migrant or ethnic minority background). Seventeen of twenty-one participants selected migrant or ethnic minority background as their primary identity, with one participant identifying as an older adult and three participants identifying as young people. The workshop was structured around six key questions designed to elicit expressive responses descriptive of lived experience with opportunity for reflection and imaginings for the future of mental healthcare using a variety of provided art materials: Question 1: What is your experience of mental health care and wellbeing? Question 2: What is needed? Question 3: What gets in the way of achieving your mental health and wellbeing goal? Question 4: How do you feel about the situation? Question 5: What is the reason behind the situation? Question 6: Reflection - What is the future of mental healthcare? The workshop produced 105 pieces of artwork. Not all participants chose to answer all six questions, and one chose to sit out the creative process entirely, opting instead to take part in a one-to-one interview. The artwork depicted participants understandings of the personal, cultural, social and political influences on mental health and provided opportunity to express feelings of confusion, hopelessness and disconnection that point toward a lack of trust fostered through not feeling heard, understood, believed or cared for when discussing mental ill health with others in their social networks or when seeking care from mental health service providers. These findings, alongside focus group discussion and semi-structured one-to-one interviews, inform our academic and creative outputs and have fed into the AHRC cohort policy document. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://forms.office.com/Pages/DesignPageV2.aspx?prevorigin=shell&origin=NeoPortalPage&subpage=desig... |
| Description | Creative workshop in collaboration with Older Adults at Age UK Herne Bay and Whitstable |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The Age UK creative workshop was held after an initial focus group with n.8 participants that established an action research model of collaborative co-production which discussed the lived experience of living with mental health challenges in later life, instances of 'social death' and a desire to promote a better and wider understanding to reduce stigma. The specific objectives of research with this group of older adults were intended to address the fact that 1 in 7 have mild cognitive impairment, anxiety and depression , yet only 7% are referred to NHS counselling services. The approach was also designed to explore generational stigma and stereotypical assumptions that mental ill health in later life is associated with cognitive decline and dementia and gain an understanding of the lived experience of service users' encounters with combined services that potentially entrench assumptions and stigma. A total of n.4 participants (half of the original focus group attendees were taken ill and unable to participate) produced narrative works guided by an art therapist which explored the previously agreed theme of raising awareness of living with a dementia diagnosis among younger audiences. Four artworks were produced, one of which went on to be displayed at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, Canterbury throughout January and February of 2025. All artworks explored the challenges of living with dementia, the effect on carers and the desire of suffers to raise awareness in the hope of reducing social stigma. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants expressed a willingness to continue engaging with mental health research beyond the life of the INTERACT study. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | INTERACT - Podcast Workshops for Young People from Ethnic Minorities Living in Kent |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Underpinned by a genuine collaborative ethos, INTERACT used creative methods to engage and involve young people from Kent's ethnic minority communities. We wanted to explore together the personal, social, cultural and political factors of their experiences with mental health and mental healthcare alongside their perspectives of mental health research. A Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement initiative, the project was designed to actively involve young people from ethnic minority communities in Kent by situating it within socially engaged, arts-based practices. Therefore, a qualitative approach was taken to understand participants' awareness and perceptions of mental health conditions, the language they use to talk about mental health challenges, who they choose to talk to about their experiences and how they discuss their mental health with others. It also sought to understand where and how they seek care, the kind of services they access and the support they value, and what helps or hinders access to services. The groups comprised a wide range of young people from ethnic minority backgrounds with lived experience, from school and university students to young adult community members and service users. This strand of the study engaged specifically with young people (16-30 years old) from ethnic minority communities to understand their perceptions of mental health and ways of enhancing involvement and participation in mental health research. This was investigated through two podcast workshops at a secondary school in Northwest Kent with n.18 16-18-year-olds and at the University of Kent for students, staff and the public (n.10 18-35-year-olds). The sessions were led by a creative practitioner who taught participants practical podcasting skills. Each group was given a choice of topics to explore and discuss. Participants were also encouraged to put forward their own topics for discussion to ensure we captured a broader range of relevant topics, a less prescriptive approach that allowed for fresh insights into the factors affecting mental health. After the practical session, participants joined topic themed discussion groups about the mental health and wellbeing of young people in Kent. These conversations were recorded, and participants were tasked with creating their own podcast episodes based on their conversations. In addition, twenty semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted that investigated cultural attitudes towards mental health, understandings of the challenges people with mental illness and their carers face when seeking treatment, and the perceived barriers and facilitators to becoming involved with mental health research. The recordings formed the basis of the podcast "Engaging Young People from Kent's Ethnic Minority Communities with Mental Health Research", which explores perceptions and understanding of mental health and mental health research among young people from diverse minority backgrounds in Kent and the barriers to their involvement in mental health research. After the workshop, one participant contacted CHSS researchers expressing an interest in the research and asked how they could become more involved in the project. He disclosed he was going on to study Psychology and Fine Art and enquired about ethnographic illustration and other arts-based practices in research. The researchers went on to collaborate with him on one of the project's creative outputs and, using his fine art skills, he was able to capture a day in the life of an older couple living with a dementia diagnosis and the challenges faced by sufferers and their carers, humanizing their experience in a way that has helped engage and raise awareness of the condition among a younger audience. This artwork went on to be displayed in the INTERACT exhibition at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, Canterbury throughout January and February of 2025, engaging an audience of around 6,000 people with his work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | INTERACT - Social Media Engagement |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Since March 2024, INTERACT's posts on LinkedIn have garnered 9,092 Impressions and received 283 reactions where people have engaged with our posts, 17 of whom made comments and 15 of whom reported. We have 69 followers and intend to keep this channel open for the further dissemination of information, research findings and public engagement activity such as our "As a Psychiatrist a Question" initiative run in collaboration with The Beaney. Beyond this platform, we intend to build a following on YouTube and TikTok to raise further awareness of our findings and engage the public with mental health research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/company/interactproject-thefutureofmentalhealthcareinkent |
| Description | INTERACT Exhibition on BBC Radio Kent |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prior to the opening of the INTERACT exhibition at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, the INTERACT team (comprising Prof. Dikomitis, Prof, Shergill and Sam Holmans Thompson) were interviewed by BBC journalist Jo Burn for BBC Radio Kent. The resulting piece was broadcast on the mornings of Saturday 11 and Monday 13 January 2025 as part of Allison Ferns' morning slot that focuses on news, information and music broadcast across the counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. BBC Radio attracts approximately 320,000 listeners per week across this South-East region. The show was also available beyond these dates on BBC Sounds. On top of this, the INTERACT research team also used the audio recording of the broadcast to produce a subtitled version of the piece that was disseminated across web and social media platforms. This broadcast piece shone a light on not only the exhibition, encouraging attendance and engagement with our research, but creative methods of mental health research, a topic not generally covered by the mainstream legacy media. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7287835466341441537/ |
| Description | INTERACT Focus Groups |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | INTERACT conducted a number of focus groups among our targeted underserved communities. The INTERACT study engaged a total of 62 participants in discussions that provided dialogue and fresh insights into peoples' perceptions and understandings of mental health and their hopes for the future of mental healthcare services. Together, we explored: Who people talk to about their mental health Where they seek care What kind of services they access and the support they value What helps or hinders access to services Their confidence in being heard and understood vs dismissed when raising issues related to mental health What their creative practice in the workshops has revealed to them about their experience, perceived needs, hopes and expectations for the future Beyond these general explorations, we set group specific objectives to understand the perceptions and experiences of each cohort. Older adults - n.3 (total of 22 participants) Young people - n.12 (total of 34 participants) Migrant and ethnic minority - n.1 (total of 6 participants) Regrettably, we were unable to organize a meaningful creative workshops and focus group comprised of new mothers. We did have one new mother participate in the creative workshop and subsequent focus group but she chose to primarily identify as from a migrant and ethnic minority background. We understand there are many reasons behind this failure of recruitment, notably pressures on time and juggling a caring role, an inability to find childcare and gatekeeping by local organizations who failed or refused to promote or encourage participation. After our engagement sessions, most participants expressed a desire to continue engagement by attending the dissemination event held at Turner Contemporary in April 2024 to join in the debate on the study's preliminary findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | INTERACT Podcast Series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The INTERACT project creatively collaborated with members of Kent's diverse communities around perceptions and experiences of mental health, the future of mental healthcare and research in workshops, focus groups and one-to-one interviews. Through sharing diverse mental health experiences, the study aimed to better understand the mental health needs of local, underserved communities. A key aim of INTERACT was to amplify the voices of community members who are rarely included in conversations about mental healthcare services, resulting in creative knowledge that will raise awareness and spark conversations about mental health and the future of the NHS. The INTERACT podcast series is intended as a way of giving underserved communities a voice, disseminating our research findings to a wider audience, raising awareness of underserved communities' perceptions, understandings and experiences of mental health. In episode one "Sikh Silences Across Generations", we explore the health beliefs and experiences of migration and racism across different generations of Sikhs and the barriers to help-seeking for mental health problems. Ongoing ethnographic fieldwork by Professor Lisa Dikomitis demonstrates that mental health can be a "taboo" subject for many Sikhs. However, the concept of "taboo" must be understood in the Sikh community's sociocultural-religious context. In episode two "Engaging young people from Kent's ethnic minority communities with mental health research", we talked with young people from Kent's ethnic minority communities about engaging with mental health research. Young ethnic minority communities face worse mental health outcomes, yet they are severely underrepresented in research. Our study explored perceptions and understanding of mental health and mental health research among young people from diverse minority backgrounds in Kent. In episode three "One in Five Mums: Perinatal Mental Health", we shared the stories and experiences of new mothers and their carers in light of the fact that around one in five women experience mental health problems during pregnancy or within the first two years of giving birth. Common themes of hiding mental ill health in motherhood due to social stigma and fear of children being removed by social services are discussed alongside a need for more honest, open and frank conversation around the challenges of motherhood are addressed. A fourth episode focused on the stories of older adults and their experiences of mental health challenges is forthcoming. The podcasts were presented as audio-visual media works featured as part of the 'INTERACT: Creative Explorations of Mental Health' exhibition held at The Beaney throughout January and February 2025. They are embedded within the INTERACT research page hosted on the University of Kent's CHSS Research Projects website and will also be disseminated through social media platforms to increase engagement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| URL | https://research.kent.ac.uk/chss/research-projects/interact/ |
| Description | INTERACT Showcase at Turner Contemporary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The INTERACT Showcase was held at Turner Contemporary in Margate on Friday 19 April 2024. Attended by approximately 125 people, it invited members of the general public alongside study participants and their carers, representatives of Kent's community organizations, psychiatrists, researchers and post-graduate students, mental health professionals and mental health service providers to discuss the results of the INTERACT study's preliminary findings and join the debate on the future of mental healthcare in Kent. The event featured presentations from mental healthcare researchers and specialists in Kent, creative work, with the roundtable discussion including contributions from psychiatrists, mental health researchers and community representatives. A selection of underserved studies were presented and debated in following question and answer sessions that encouraged interested members of the public, service users and their carers to engage with the speakers and offer fresh perspectives on the research presented, the future direction of research and their hopes for the future of mental healthcare. As a backdrop to the gathering, ethnographic artwork was displayed in the space, depicting participants engaged in the research. The afternoon comprised: Presentation - Glory Oluwaseun 'Engaging young people from Kent's ethnic minority communities with mental health research' Presentation - Joseph Price 'Engaging people with severe mental illness in Kent with health research' Presentation - Sam Holmans Thompson 'INTERACT - Imagining mental healthcare: Engaging Underserved communities in Kent' Presentation - Ursula Shepherd 'Coastal Communities Study' Q&A Discussion with public and key stakeholders on findings of presentations Presentation - Holly Till and Nat Farley 'Community Involvement in Research at KMPT' Q&A Discussion with public and key stakeholders on PPI and community engagement strategy Roundtable discussion - Prof. Sukhi Shergill, Dr. Joanne Rodda, Prof. Derek Tracy, Mr. Jagdev Singh Virdee, Ms Sarah Drage 'The future of mental healthcare services' Q&A Discussion with public and key stakeholders on the future of mental healthcare services, and personal responsibilities vs the responsibilities of healthcare service providers The event provided opportunity for members of the public to directly engage with and question researchers, service providers and healthcare professionals. Many attendees, including NGOs, provided email addresses and other contact information so that they can be informed about INTERACT's findings and establish ongoing relationships with researchers, including KMPT's research community, to become involved further with mental health research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://kmms.ac.uk/interact-project-to-host-showcase-event-at-the-turner-contemporary/ |
| Description | INTERACT interview and focus group study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Throughout the study, the INTERACT research team conducted a series of semi-structured one-to-one interviews and focus groups using tailored guides to discuss and understand peoples' experiences of mental health and wellbeing, their perceived needs and understandings of mental health and wellbeing versus their engagement with mental health services, and their future imaginings of how to improve the situation and the services they use or want to use. This discussion enabled us to explore with participants the personal, social, cultural and political factors that inform their experiences of mental health and mental healthcare services. Core questions included : - What is mental health for you? - Who do you talk to about your mental health? - Do you feel confident in expressing your experiences to the people you talk to about mental health? - What experiences have you had accessing support and what would you change about it or hope to keep? - What kind of mental health support services do you value and why? - Do you feel heard and understood by family/friends/colleagues/healthcare workers? - Is there anything in your life that makes it challenging for you to get help or access the services you want to? (This could be a pet at home, language barriers, mobility and transport issues, perceived stigma, etc.) - Are you aware of KMPT and have you had any interaction with KMPT's services? - How did that experience make you feel? How do you want to feel after interacting with KMPT? - Is there any topic we've not covered that you think is important or something else that you'd like to add? For each of the underserved groups targeted by the INTERACT research study, researchers asked tailored questions designed to provide insight into each groups' particular experiences: Young People - Have you found it easier to talk about mental health as you've got older? - Do you feel connecting with others socially online is a positive or negative thing for you? - Do you prefer discussing your mental health with people of a similar age? - What spaces do you prefer to engage with others around mental health? Online, over the phone or face to face? - Do you prefer to talk about your experiences in a group or one-to-one? New Mothers - How did you feel when you knew you were pregnant? - Was there anyone you thought you couldn't share your experience with and why? - How would you describe discussing your mental health and wellbeing with your GP and midwife? Was there a difference? - Did you feel there were any challenges to discussing your mental health and wellbeing while pregnant? - As a new mother, did this change after giving birth? Migrants & Ethnic Minority Background - Do you feel able to discuss mental health with others within your community? - Was there anyone you thought you couldn't share your experience with and why? - Do you discuss your culture and background with healthcare professionals? - Do you find it easier to speak to someone from the same or a similar background when accessing mental health services? - Are you confident to ask healthcare professionals to communicate with you in a way you understand? - Have you experienced mental healthcare services elsewhere in the world and how did this compare to the support you've received in the UK? Older Adults - Did you ever talk about mental health when you were younger? Who with? - Have you found it easier to talk about mental health as you've got older? - What do you think stops or encourages you to seek help? - Do you prefer discussing your mental health with people of a similar age? - What do you think about combined vs separate mental health services for older people - should this stand-alone from memory clinics/dementia services? - Do you find it easier to speak with healthcare workers face to face, over the phone or online? Why is that? Beyond these guideline questions, researchers also encouraged participants to freely discuss and narrativize their experiences of mental ill health and their engagement with mental healthcare services. The audio recordings amounted to around 25 hours of audio data that was transcribed in accordance with our GDPR and ethics approval and thematically analyzed: New mothers - n.4 (one of which was a carer) Older adults - n.5 Young people, including young people from Migrant and ethnic minority backgrounds - n.20 Interview and focus groups recordings were used to produce a series of podcasts that explore the experiences of each group. The majority of participants involved expressed an interest in continuing engagement and were invited to and attended the showcase dissemination event held at Margate's Turner Contemporary art gallery in April of 2024 and the INTERACT exhibition held at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, Canterbury in January and February of 2025. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| URL | https://research.kent.ac.uk/chss/research-projects/interact/ |