Let’s Talk About Mental Health is a new creative resource co-created by adults and young people in Netherton, Sefton, and it aims to help start conversations about mental health and emotional wellbeing.

The resource was the result of a participatory research project funded by Sefton in Mind, delivered by Collective Encounters in partnership with MRIC (Mental Health Research and Innovation Centre) and Netherton Park Neighbourhood Centre. In 2025, Abi Horsfield, Co-Artistic Director at Collective Encounters, led a series of sessions for both adults and young people at Netherton Park Neighbourhood Centre, using creative activities to find out how people wanted to be asked about their mental health.

I am amazed by the openness and trust built up in these sessions and how these
creative exercises help people to find their voice. (Marie, Netherton Park Neighbourhood Centre Manager)

Initially, the groups each proposed a question that they would like to be asked:

The children’s group suggested “what’s going on inside your head?”

The teenage group suggested “what is it you’re not telling me?”

And the adult group suggested “what’s bothering you?”

The groups then worked with Abi to design a set of creative activities and games that built on these questions to get people talking about their mental health. A core group developed the ideas in detail and trialled the activities over several weeks, leading to the production of a pamphlet and a collection of creative resources which include:

  • “What’s Bothering You?” Bingo
  • “What’s Your Story?” Question Cards
  • Emotional Body Mapping Worksheet
  • Draw Your Mental Health

The pamphlet and resources can be downloaded from our website for anyone to use. Collective Encounters is now seeking funds to further research and develop the resource, and to produce physical copies.

If you give any of the activities a go, we’d love to know how you got on and if you have any feedback for us. To share your experiences or if you have any questions about this project, contact abi@collective-encounters.org.uk