More information
Description
The aim of Improkool is to reduce the aggravation of mental health problems by creating preventive community activities to support mental health. Through a novel collaboration between improv comedy practitioners and mental health professionals, we are adapting an approach common elsewhere in the world: an improv theater format that supports mental health. We want to support the mental health of the inhabitants of Southern Estonia by empowering local communities and increasing active citizenship in order to make knowledge and activities supporting mental health (practicing mental health-promoting improv-comedy) available to vulnerable target groups in communities. We can do this by expanding the activities of NGO Improkool (improv comedy) through partnership cooperation with NGO Peaasjad (Head Matters, mental health). Expanding the activities of NGO Improkool by building a bridge from the field of performing arts to the field of mental health helps to show the ability and sustainability of the NGOs to adapt to current needs and create added value in society. The project targets all South Estonian residents who can participate in the project through various activities: visiting mental health improv comedy performances, participating in mental health open improv classes in their communities or taking a community leader role as a facilitator of mental health support improv groups. The good practice can be further expanded in Southern Estonia with the help of other partners as well as in communities across Estonia and to measure the impact of the intervention.
Summary of project results
One in four people experience mental health issues at some point in their life. In 2018, Estonia ranked sixth in Europe for the prevalence of mental health problems and was at the forefront for the frequency of depression. Mental health issues are pervasive yet often invisible, accompanied by stigma from both individuals and society. This stigma can make people feel less valued, hopeless, or excluded, preventing them from seeking help or delaying it for decades. Reducing stigma requires supportive and understanding discussions about mental health, greater knowledge of its nature, and practical skills to support one''s mental well-being.
The project focused on South Estonia (Tartu, Põlva, Valga, and Võru counties), where the need for mental health support is particularly high compared to the rest of the country. According to the 2018 "Health Overview of Estonian Counties" by Terviseinfo.ee, depression is more prevalent in these counties than the national average.
The project''s goal was to support the mental health of South Estonian residents by empowering local communities and increasing civic engagement. It aimed to make mental health knowledge and activities—such as practicing mental health-supportive improvisational comedy—accessible to vulnerable target groups within these communities. If successful, the project planned to expand its activities to other parts of Estonia after piloting them in this specific region.
The project carried out several activities aimed at improving mental health in South Estonian communities through the use of improvisational theater (improv). The main focus was on identifying and training individuals from various parts of South Estonia to use improv as a tool for enhancing mental well-being and to implement these practices within their own communities. The activities included:
- Awareness-Raising Efforts: The project engaged with local governments, educators, and the general public in South Estonia. This was done through active promotion, writing articles, appearing on local podcasts, and raising awareness about the positive impact of improv on mental health.
- Introductory Performances and Workshops: In 2022, two improv performances and workshops were held in collaboration with Ruutu10 improvisers. These events introduced the concept of improv for mental health support to the public and attracted approximately 90 participants.
- Recruitment and Training of Inspirational Community Leaders: The project recruited local Inspirational community leaders to participate in mental health improv training. Over 40 people applied, 18 began the modular training, and 15 completed it. Participants were trained in leading improv games and sessions, as well as completing mental health first aid training. They solidified their knowledge by organizing showcase performances at the end of their training, attended by about 80 people.
- Community Performances and Workshops: In 2023, the project organized three improv performances in South Estonia, incorporating the trained community leaders in the workshops. These performances aimed to spread awareness about future workshop opportunities in local communities, drawing approximately 380 participants.
- Community-Led Improv Sessions: The trained people independently organized open mental health improv sessions in their local communities.
Through these activities, the project laid a strong foundation for making mental health-supportive improv practices accessible to vulnerable groups in South Estonia while also generating interest for potential expansion to other regions in the future.
The project achieved several impactful results aimed at reducing the severity of mental health issues in South Estonia by creating preventive and supportive community-based activities. A collaborative effort between improvisational comedy practitioners and mental health specialists successfully adapted a globally recognized approach—mental health-supportive improv theater—to fit the Estonian context.
Key results include:
- Fifteen individuals from South Estonia now have the necessary skills and knowledge to lead regular mental health-supportive improv groups in their communities. This initiative is expected to have a lasting positive impact on the overall mental well-being of these regions.
- The project empowered local communities by increasing civic engagement and making mental health knowledge and practices accessible, especially for vulnerable groups. This initiative fostered a sustainable, community-driven approach to mental health support.
- Through this project, Project Promoter Improkool gained significant visibility, with an increased number of invitations to perform and conduct training sessions. Organizations and individuals are now seeking out Improkool not just for entertainment but for the conscious experience of how improv games can positively influence mental health.
- The project expanded its reach to new target groups who, after having positive experiences with improv for mental health, have further recommended these practices to others.
Overall, the project established a foundation for making mental health-supportive activities accessible in South Estonia, contributing to a shift in how mental health is understood and supported within communities. It also opened doors for scaling these efforts to other regions in Estonia.