Learning and education can affect mental health and wellbeing. A partnership between Northamptonshire Teaching Primary Care Trust and Northamptonshire County Council Adult Learning Service resulted in the Learn 2b programme; a series of community-based adult learning courses for people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.

The courses were structured around the themes of wellbeing, creative expression and healthy living. The Mental Health Foundation independently evaluated this programme over a period of three years. Data were collected from people who attended Learn 2b courses. This report describes the findings of the evaluation.

The report shows that education programmes provide a simple, low cost way of helping people to reduce symptoms of mild to moderate depression and anxiety. This type of service, within primary care settings, could be used for some people as an alternative to other treatments such as medication.