All photos by Andi Gaywood, taken during the Walk and Talk group
walks follow routes through historic, unusual and beautiful parts of London. Bruce highlights interesting aspects of the local landscape and, once a month, the group visit places beyond Hackney. Members have shared that seeing the everyday in new ways and exploring places beyond it helps to generate a collective sense of power: Sara: With the group, I never mind. When I’m with the group, I’ve got people; we look like family...With the group you feel more confident; you are together. Jacob: The group has got a power, it ’s a part of Hoxton; it ’s a part of Hackney. The comments above also show how
the group draw on their power to create a multifaceted identity that fits them. Sara references the mutual support they provide each other, like a family, while Jacob projects a localised identity by describing how they are part of a place.
Together, they emphasise the diversity of the group and resist using mental health labels to define what brings them together. This ability to create a unique identity is an important reason why group members feel so confident moving out into the world together. In conclusion, whilst time-limited,
goal-oriented approaches are effective and appropriate for some, we believe that Walk and Talk points to the rich, meaningful ways that people who need more support can develop when unrestricted by the templates that currently dominate services.
References Chase, M. (2011) On being human in a depersonalised place: A critical analysis of community psychiatric practice (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Portsmouth. Holmes, G. (2010) Walk and talk. In: G. Holmes (ed.) Psychology in the Real World: Community- Based Groupwork. Hertfordshire: PCCS Books.
Lees, L. (2018) Challenging the gentrification of council estates in London. Urban Transformations, March 16. ESRC Network, University of Oxford. McGrath, L. & Reavey, P. (2016) “Zip me up, and cool me down”: Molar narratives and molecular intensities in ‘helicopter’ mental health services. Health & Place, 38: 61-69. Muir, J. & McGrath, L. (2018) Life lines: Loss, loneliness and expanding meshworks with an urban Walk and Talk group. Health and Place, 53: 164-172. Rogers, A. & Pilgrim, D. (2014) A Sociology of Mental Health and Illness. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.
Jacqui Henry is director of health and wellbeing strategy at Shoreditch Trust. Stephanie Monteilh is Peace of Mind project manager at Shoreditch Trust. Bruce Edwards and Anita Finch are Walk and Talk co-facilitators. Jessica Muir is a clinical psychologist at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS trust. Angela Byrne is a clinical psychologist at East London NHS Foundation Trust
www.shoreditchtrust.org.uk Contact us at
jhenry@shoreditchtrust.org.uk
Context 164, August 2019
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‘Going out towards Hackney by coach for the ayre’: Walking and talking together
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