Carr Gomm

Connected Lives project 

What we've done and how it embodies Time Space Compassion

Carr Gomm's Connected Lives project, funded by the Digital Pioneers Mental Health Fund, worked with Carr Gomm's integrated mental health services in the North East, North West, and South of Glasgow to support people living with moderate-to-severe, enduring mental health conditions to get online in a safe and meaningful way.  

Connected Lives provided support in three main ways:

1. Provision of an appropriate device and 12 months of unlimited data

2. Person-centred digital inclusion support to build digital confidence

3. The option to join a weekly online peer network

From October 2023 – June 2024, we supported 75 people, upskilled 9 Digital Ambassadors and cascaded learning to 40 Support Practitioners, and ran 33 online peer network sessions with activities ranging from Bingo, to pottery painting, and quizzes.  

Connected Lives embodies “Time, Space, Compassion” through the impact of our existing, trusted support relationships. Our Support Practitioners in Glasgow are already in the lives of hundreds of people each year who are experiencing suicidal crisis. By upskilling Support Practitioners to feel comfortable and confident supporting people to get online, digital can be used as a powerful tool to enable people to meet new people, look after themselves, and learn new things. 

Who we worked with

Carr Gomm's Digital Inclusion Development Manager worked alongside Carr Gomm's frontline integrated mental health services in the North East, North West, and South of Glasgow to develop their own bespoke approach to providing digital inclusion support. People we support live with moderate-to-severe, enduring mental health conditions and many have experience of inpatient psychiatric care.

Our Integrated teams typically provide short-term support (up to 12 weeks) to enable people to live safe and well in their community. This can include support to apply for housing/benefits after hospital discharge, connecting in with local clubs and activities, and support to manage daily living tasks (e.g., shopping). 

How people felt

Getting online supported people to strengthen their social connections which had a positive impact on mental wellbeing. Our weekly Connected Lives Peer Network provided a safe, welcoming space for people we support to meet new people in the comfort of their own home at a pace that feels right for them.

The Peer Network enjoyed many different activities together, including quizzes, pottery painting, virtual escape rooms, and sketching sessions. Peer Network members have shared that they have enjoyed coming together with others who share similar life experiences in a context where mental health is not an explicit focus:

 “Other groups av been in, they’ve been aboot talking aboot how you’re feeling aw the time. It can be hard hearing other people’s stories – sometimes that makes you go to a dark place as well. It’s no like that here. We hiv a good laugh and support each other at the same time – y’know?”

 – John, Connected Lives Peer Network Member 

Attending the Connected Lives Peer Network has served as a stepping stone for some people we support to begin attending face-to-face groups and activities in their local communities (e.g., Restart cooking classes), now that they have built up their confidence in social situations.

People we support have also used digital to support their health and wellbeing. Initially, people we support tended to feel uncertain about using the internet to support their wellbeing and were at risk of engaging with potentially harmful or conspiratorial content. However, once they had developed trust and confidence in their own ability to find and engage with trusted sources, people began to use digital to support their recovery (e.g., attending virtual AA meetings), their mobility (e.g., using NHS Fitness Studio for chair-based exercises), and emotional health (e.g. accessing bereavement support groups).

Support to develop digital skills and confidence has also opened opportunities for people to learn and grow. People we support have worked alongside their Support Practitioners to apply for jobs and college courses; learning how to browse listings, complete online applications, and use video conferencing software for interviews.

In addition, people we support have found volunteering opportunities in their local communities through searching online with one person we support securing a volunteer position with the charity Dress to Impress. Digital access has had a ripple effect on people’s wider families; with one person we support regularly using their tablet to support their school-age children with homework and class projects which has boosted their children’s attainment.

Based on 33 surveys responses:

• 64% of people we support report feeling ‘fairly’ to ‘very’ digitally confident

• 64% of people we support report feeling connected to those important to them

• 79% of people we support felt being able to access online services made them more independent

• 90% of people we support felt being able to access entertainment had a positive impact on their wellbeing

• 81% of people we support felt accessing health information and services online was helpful to managing their wellbeing

What difference it made

Over the project, we refined our learning on how to deliver digital inclusion support within a short-term context to achieve maximum impact. 

We upskilled nine Digital Ambassadors across our three Glasgow Integrated services who played a key role in supporting their wider teams to feel confident and prepared to provide digital inclusion support.

Digital Ambassadors have reported that Connected Lives has helped open conversation on digital generally within teams, which has enabled Support Practitioners to voice their own concerns and anxieties about their digital skills.

This has helped teams to create a more comfortable and supportive culture within their service where there are “no stupid questions” which has in turn positively impacted staff buy-in and support for the project. Staff being honest about their own level of digital skill has also had a positive impact by de-mystifying digital for people we support and opening the opportunity to learn side-by-side, which has strengthened trust and rapport within support relationships.

Digital Ambassadors worked alongside the Digital Inclusion Development Manager to develop a Connected Lives Digital Inclusion Starter Pack which brings together tips, resources, and examples of best practice in providing digital inclusion support in one handy place. This Starter Pack has now formed the basis of Carr Gomm’s Digital Skills & Inclusion Hub for staff across the organisation to develop their digital inclusion practice.

Kirsty's* story

Kirsty is a young woman living with Huntington’s disease and enduring poor mental health.

At the beginning of Connected Lives, Kirsty was socially isolated, struggling to find reasons to get out of bed, and regularly experiencing suicidal thoughts. Through Connected Lives, Kirsty was provided with a tablet, 12 months of connectivity, and person-centred support to build her digital confidence.

Kirsty was also invited to join weekly Zoom calls with the Connected Lives Peer Network. Initially, Kirsty was dubious about the impact that digital inclusion support could have on her life. However, Kirsty now says her perception has “completely flipped 180 degrees”.

Kirsty was a regular attendee of the Connected Lives Peer Network. Prior to Connected Lives, Kirsty had never used Zoom and felt very anxious about meeting new people.

However, overtime, Kirsty reflects that her confidence has grown and she feels she has made genuine connections via the Peer Network, saying: "The [online peer network] is so welcoming. You feel you’re part of a wee family. For me to go from having no friends, to new people knowing my name and caring about me…that’s a big thing.

"It’s such a nice, wee happy place that I like going to. It makes me feel like I have people in my life. I’m feeling not as doom and gloom, I feel there’s light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t need to sit and do nothing all day. I can get up and I can do things.

"Even things like using the tablet to play calming music to help me get to sleep. I’m getting better sleeps and feeling better in the morning for it.

"It might sound silly, but this tablet has completely changed me. It’s done wonders for me and my confidence – it’s helped me meet people and make friends”

Kirsty states that being a part of the Connected Lives Peer Network motivated her to try and meet new people in person. Kirsty has now used Facebook to find groups in her local area where she can meet women her age to try new hobbies and activities.

She also now attends Restart cooking classes which she feels gives her a reason to leave the house and supports her goal of looking after her nutrition which is important in managing her Huntington’s.

*name changed

Get in touch

If you'd like to learn more you can email Shanon McNee at Carr Gomm or call her on 07707 286 679.

You can find a range of other suicide prevention services and support here.