Feedback is very important to us at the Canopi service. That’s why we ask everyone to complete a feedback survey when they finish accessing support from us.
This summer, we wanted to gain a deeper insight into the experiences of people who have referred themselves to Canopi.
To get a variety of perspectives, we spoke with fourteen people who had accessed different parts of the service, as well as those who self-referred but decided not to access support.
These conversations revealed many self-reported benefits of accessing the service, ways in which the service is working well and some recommendations for future improvement.
An easy and efficient referral process
“It was very, very quick and easy to arrange. That’s a real benefit because you need it when you need it, rather than being on a waiting list.”
Most people found the self-referral process easy and said they valued receiving support quickly. Things that made the referral process quick and easy included an efficient help desk team and good communication, so people were kept informed throughout.
A personalised and safe space to express mental health concerns
“I will be unendingly grateful to [the therapist] who gave me the time that I needed on that afternoon…I can’t praise her and the Spring programme enough; it’s superb.”
Our therapists listened, understood, and provided a safe space for people to express their concerns.
People also reported that Canopi therapists and helpdesk staff were warm in their interactions and flexible, responding to individual needs.
Positive outcomes for mental health
“It really was the key turning point to a full recovery.”
Most people found their experience with Canopi beneficial, and some reported that Canopi helped them to resolve the difficulties they were experiencing. Others reported that they experienced more positive emotions, learned good coping strategies and gained new perspectives on the challenging situations in their lives.
Looking ahead
As a result of these conversations, we will focus on the following improvements:
- Continue raising awareness of the Canopi service, particularly in the social care sector. Email canopi@cardiff.ac.uk for your free promotion pack.
- Find ways in which we can further support people when their Canopi sessions are ending.