COVID-19 Talk Listen Change community engagement

 

A community project to tackle inequalities of COVID-19 in Luton.

Background

Nationally, there's clear evidence that COVID-19 has not affected all population groups equally. In Luton, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, black African and black Caribbean population groups (BAME) have seen the greatest impact.

In January 2021, together with the Institute of Health Research at the University of Bedfordshire, we launched a unique community engagement project COVID-19 Talk Listen Change (TLC). The aim of the project was to explore why these communities have been disproportionately affected by the virus.

A key goal of the initiative is to work with residents to develop solutions to some of the identified barriers and issues in order to tackle health inequalities

TLC mental health campaign

The TLC research project highlighted how the pandemic had impacted people’s mental health. Project participants stated that more mental health support was required. The TLC five ways to wellbeing mental health campaign aims to address this outcome, as well as support a key aim of our town-wide strategy and vision - Luton 2040 - to improve wellbeing and tackle inequalities.

Five ways to wellbeing

What are the five ways to wellbeing and why do they matter?

Extensive research by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) has shown that there are five key ways to improve our mental health and wellbeing. Like the five-a-day fruit and vegetables that are good for our physical health, the ‘five ways to wellbeing’ are easy things everyone can do to help boost our mental health.

Connect

Connecting with the people around you such as family, friends, colleagues or neighbours, at home, work school or in your local community, can create a sense of belonging and will help to boost your wellbeing.

Take notice

Be curious, remark on the unusual, notice the changing seasons. Paying more attention to the present moment (sometimes called mindfulness) can positively change how we feel about life and how we deal with challenges.

Be active

Go for a walk, bike ride, have a dance or do some gardening. Being active a few times a week and discovering a physical activity that suits your level of mobility and fitness can help transform your physical fitness, but can also boost your mood and improve concentration and performance.

Keep learning

Try something new, rediscover an old interest, sign up for a course, learn to play an instrument or try a new recipe. Trying something new can positively stimulate the brain, boosts self-confidence and can help build a sense of purpose which improves mental wellbeing.

Give

Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger, volunteer your time. Carrying out acts of kindness, whether small or large, and being compassionate can create positive feelings and a sense of reward.

Luton’s five ways to wellbeing campaign was launched on 22 September at the Hat Factory. The campaign is about breaking down those big topics into small habits which are easy for everyone to build into their day. Creating new healthy habits is a great way of incorporating the five ways to wellbeing without it feeling too overwhelming.

We believe in community-powered wellbeing. Our campaign aims to empower everyone in Luton to understand what the five ways to wellbeing are, and how everyone can take tiny steps to improve their own mental health and wellbeing.

We hope that by sharing the campaign with your friends, family and your wider networks, the message about the five ways to wellbeing will reach even more people, and inspire even more people in Luton to make just one tiny step towards improving their mental health and wellbeing.

Luton’s five ways to wellbeing campaign aims to:

1. raise awareness of the five ways to wellbeing in Luton
2. promote tiny healthy habits built around the five ways to wellbeing
3. help people in Luton recognise the signs of poor mental health in their family and friends so they can support them
4. help break down the stigma around mental health
5. signpost local services so Luton residents know how to access mental health and wellbeing services

Focus groups were conducted with professionals and residents to determine if the campaign concepts were relevant, appropriate and relatable.

Find out more about five ways to wellbeing.

Wellbeing wall

A big part of breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health and wellbeing is learning to talk more openly about these topics. Our interactive wellbeing wall is a way of communicating how we feel, and illustrating that.

Complete this short form - it asks you some questions about how you’re feeling today. Your anonymous answers will produce a graphic that will be shared as a part of the wellbeing wall.

Resources

• Lutons five ways to wellbeing campaign image download
• Go for a 5 minute walk today even if it's just round the block image download
• What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given image download
• Breathe in 1,2,3,4 .. Hold 1,2,3,4 .. Breathe out 1,2,3,4 and Hold 1,2,3,4 image download

Mental health and wellbeing services

If you need support with your mental health and wellbeing please contact your GP or there are local services that you can access please visit Adult Wellbeing on the Luton online directory for more details