• Tutorials

    Tutorial sessions that guide you through a process of inner thought and progress

  • Worksheets and Exercises

    Each section will include a tutorial and exercises

  • Resources

This seven week course is an opportunity for self-discovery and self-development, through exploring the 5 core components of good mental health – Character, Composure, Connection, Creativity and Challenge. You’ll be able to see your strengths and skills more clearly, and identify a personal development plan to move forward.

 7 week course
Years access


open to everyone

free to take part

What's inside this course

  • Section 1

    • Explore meanings around mental health, good mental health and mental illness • Find out about the Seven Cs Framework for good mental health • Find out about our responses to change and vulnerability

  • Section 2

    • Explore our most important values • Identify our skills, strengths and resources • Learn about how we tell our stories

  • Section 3

    • Explore how to practise being ‘in the zone’ • Identify ways of managing our emotions • Find out more about mindfulness

  • Section 4

    • Explore our social networks • Let’s look at loneliness • Find out how giving benefits our mental health

  • Section 5

    • Discover fun, imagination and play • Explore your creative talents • Feel inspired and learn to think outside the box

  • Section 6

    • Step outside your comfort zone • Learn and develop • Set goal

  • Section 7

    • Self assessment using the 5Cs framework • Develop your Wellbeing Toolbox • Explore how to make your own good mental health plan

Carolyn Barber

Carolyn is a qualified social worker, a serial social entrepreneur, and experienced in implementing creative solutions to challenging problems in social care. As the author of The Layperson’s Guide to Good Mental Health: Your A-Z for a Happier Life, Carolyn has developed a framework for good mental health which she calls the 5 Cs – Character, Composure, Connection, Creativity and Challenge. Using this framework she has delivered community workshops and courses over the past 10 years, to support people working positively towards good mental health, emotional resilience and wellbeing. After 25 years experience working as a social worker, trainer, researcher and manager in local authority and voluntary sector services, she set up an independent arts and wellbeing venue in Portsmouth in 2007. Despite the impact of the economic recession that year, Carolyn kept the venue going for three years before it had to close. From her experience of this enterprise, and the network developed, Carolyn went on to co-found the Good Mental Health Cooperative in 2013, sharing her passion for promoting good mental health and wellbeing and challenging stigma, through community based projects, events and courses. Earlier this year, Carolyn was recognised as an Inspirational Woman in Health by Pamodzi Awards in Portsmouth. Carolyn has worked with local authorities, universities, charities and community groups on a range of innovative projects in social care. She also currently facilitates action learning sets for social entrepreneurs through Action Hampshire, and is a practice assessor for students training to be social workers, and qualified social workers in their first year of practice with Hampshire Adult Care.