Mental health charity sets up peer supportive creative groups for Dacorum men

A mental health charity is running Online Creative Connection Peer Support Groups for men with mental health and/or addiction challenges in Dacorum.

Thanks to recent funding from Dacorum Borough Council, Viewpoint will be able to give men in the borough the opportunity to join art and creative expression sessions.

The charity supports people in Hertfordshire with mental health problems, or drug and alcohol problems, they exist to ensure that services users have a voice which is heard and responded to.

Viewpoint is offering classes in Creative writing and Poetry, Art and Music, they will be one hour long and consist of 12 sessions over 12 weeks.

Each group is going to be run by two Peer Facilitators who are using creativity to help them with their recovery.

The aims of the groups are:

- Make connections

- Gain practical experience in creative expression

- Use creativity to improve wellbeing

- Unlock your creative potential.

These sessions will be delivered through Zoom and are fully interactive. All group members who book onto our sessions are expected to attend all of the sessions and participate in the activities and discussions to ensure everyone gets the most out of the session.

Jamie-Ellen Byrne, Viewpoint administrator, said: "During this pandemic we as a charity wanted to provide peer support groups that not only reduced isolation and loneliness but also gave men the chance to open up their creative potential.

"The aim is for attendees to make new connections, gain practical experience in creative expression and use creativity to improve wellbeing.

"We are so thankful to Dacorum Borough Council for making this a reality."

For more information visit: www.hertsviewpoint.co.uk/creative-connection-peer-support-groups-for-men-residing-in-dacorum