VOX Scotland, in partnership with Kairos Women, delivered a series of three wellbeing workshops for members of Kairos Kitchen. The sessions focused on mental health awareness, emotional wellbeing, and advocacy in a safe and supportive environment.
The aim of the workshops was to encourage open conversations about mental health, reduce stigma, and help participants build practical tools to support their emotional wellbeing.
The first session focused on mental health awareness and support. Participants explored ways to seek help during difficult times and shared personal coping strategies for managing stress and emotional challenges.
The discussion highlighted that mental health stigma can make it difficult for people to talk openly, especially within families and communities. This reinforced the importance of safe spaces where people can speak freely without judgment.
The second session introduced the emotional wheel as a tool to help participants identify and name their emotions more clearly.
Participants learned how understanding emotions can improve self-awareness and support better coping and decision-making. Many shared that this helped them understand themselves and their feelings in a new way.
The third session focused on creative expression through an art-based activity inspired by art therapy.
Participants expressed their emotions through artwork and later shared the meaning behind their pieces. This created a supportive space for reflection and connection.
A collective poem was created from participants’ stories and experiences, reflecting themes of healing, freedom, and peace.
The final part of the series introduced advocacy, explaining the difference between individual and collective advocacy.
Participants learned how VOX Scotland supports people to speak up, share their views, and influence changes in mental health services. This helped them understand how they can get involved and have their voices heard.
Overall, the workshops created a safe and supportive space for participants to:
- Talk openly about mental health
- Learning emotional awareness tools
- Express themselves creatively
- Understand advocacy and their rights
- Build confidence and connection
The sessions helped strengthen wellbeing, confidence, and a sense of empowerment among participants.
Each participant created their own piece of artwork and gave it a meaningful title. They then shared the reasons behind their chosen name, explaining the emotions and experiences reflected in their work. Based on these personal interpretations and stories, a collective poem was created, capturing the group’s shared feelings and individual perspectives.
The poem:
Ups and downs of my life
not a straight line,
more like waves
teaching me balance.
Am I?
becoming,
unbecoming,
asking before answering.
Free style freedom
no frame,
no rules,
just breath moving through color.
Arrange me
not to be perfect,
but to be honest,
pieces allowed to shift.
People’s thoughts
brush past me,
Stay with me,
fade when I choose peace.
Scramble art
messy, layered,
beautiful in its chaos.
An art piece
made of moments,
silence,
and sound.
Happiness
not loud,
not constant,
but real when it arrives.
Flowy
like time,
like healing,
like letting go.
Peaceful
not empty,
just soft enough
to rest in.
Heading and becoming
still moving,
still learning,
still here.