Thrive update – October 2018

We had 105 respondents through a combination of online and paper surveys, which was a good mix of all age ranges. Some key takeaways were:
·        Great range of words to describe good and bad mental wellbeing:

·        Three quarters of respondents have struggled with their mental wellbeing at some point, and a third of respondents are living with someone who is or has struggled with their mental wellbeing
·        Existing things highlighted as having a positive impact on wellbeing include; prayer ministry, worship, belonging to cell groups, small friendship groups, hobby groups, and connecting with the environment
·        Suggestions for areas we could develop or improve on (which we will look into further as Thrive progresses) include; support groups, quiet reflective/mindfulness space, mental health awareness/education.
Currently, Thrive sees themselves as a small working party that is thinking about how we shape and promote good mental wellbeing in our church; this includes signposting to services, and utilising us as a resource to support groups. What we don’t see ourselves as, is a referral agency, or as a group dedicated to pastoral issues.
Promotion of mental wellbeing is a whole church concern and not something that is just Thrive’s responsibility, so this is something we will look to work with you on as we go into 2019. We will also continue to explore what other churches are doing in Southampton/Shirley in this area.