​Studio Upstairs offers longer-term support. Enduring conditions of distress are usually the result of a complex set of factors.

We believe that short-term approaches lead to cycles of relapse and present a much higher cost to individuals, families, and to society as a whole.

​Many people from black and ethnic minority comunities have experienced long-term discrimination and this in turn can lead to poor mental health and life chances. ​The Studio helps on their journeys:

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• From Patient to Artist: We help people reclaim their identity. In our studios, individuals are defined by their creativity and skills, not their medical history or diagnosis.

• From Isolation to Community: Many of our members come to us feeling invisible. We provide a peer-led community where people find belonging, share skills, and build lasting friendships.

• From Crisis to Stability: By providing a permanent "anchor," we help reduce the need for hospital readmissions. Our members gain the tools and confidence to manage their wellbeing independently through art.

• From Exclusion to Contribution: Through our public galleries, exhibitions, and shops, we help our artists share their work with the world, challenging the stigma of mental health and contributing to the local culture of Hackney, Bristol, and South London.