Gill Trevor from Phoenix Health and Wellbeing reflects on the opening workshop for the new Mental Health Information Hub which took place in Leeds on 30 September.
I was recently invited to go along to a consultation workshop around designing an Information Hub for mental health services in Leeds.
My first thought – that sounds complicated!
My second thought – workshop suggests I have to do something.
My third thought – lunch will be good!
I must admit I was keen to attend. Leeds has some fantastic services for people with chronic health issues. I am passionate about enabling people to get comprehensive information about these services and always interested in some ‘blue sky thinking’ around issues.
Alicia Ridout from mhabitat was the person who had invited me. I have worked with Alicia before so I knew that the format of the day would be entertaining and certainly anything but dull.
The proceedings were facilitated by a digital agency – YouMee. They got people to draw upon the creative side of their brains and also use a little underlying logic. You have to do this to ‘blue sky’ otherwise your logic keeps making comments like “that won’t work”
I really enjoyed the day. I enjoyed thinking about the different people who might use an Information Hub and then trying to draw different characters known as ‘personas’.
There were plenty of opportunities to describe ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ for the Hub. Sheets of paper were pinned to the walls for people to write thoughts and ideas on as the day went along. Working in this creative way was different to anything that I have experienced in the third sector. I have to say it was very refreshing!
I feel extremely positive about the Information Hub following my brief encounter at the workshop. I hope I get asked to another and before you ask – yes lunch was good!