“My day to day life is awesome!” Continuity and innovation in Mind in Bexley’s services during COVID-19 lockdowns

Purpose This paper reports on an oral history project run by Mind in Bexley (MiB) during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. The purpose of the study and this paper is to create a record of the resilience of MiB’s clients and to discuss the lasting legacy of the digital services and community networks built during the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative research design was co-produced with service users and actively engaged service users, caregivers and individuals with lived experience in the design and process. MiB collected contributions for an exhibition and conducted 18 online, qualitative interviews exploring the impact of lockdown and COVID-19 and MiB’s response. Findings The changes forced by the COVID-19 lockdowns encouraged creativity, responsive care, built new communities and supported new forms of engagement. Online, telemental services allowed MiB to provide individual support in new and efficient ways. Through the project, the authors have gained a much-needed, person-centred view of how people with mental health diagnoses draw on their self-knowledge and understanding of recovery to build positive coping strategies. Originality/value This work’s original contribution: challenges perceptions of the vulnerability of people living with mental health illnesses during COVID-19; uses a co-produced methodology combining interviews and creative contributions; has lessons for services seeking to improve social support and resilience, digital (telemental) service provision and service continuity.