This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2015/mar/23/music-mental-illness-new-project-aims-to-challenge-stigma

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
The music of mental illness: how a new project aims to challenge stigma The music of mental illness: how a new project aims to challenge stigma
(33 minutes later)
Young composers and people with experience of mental illness are using the genre of classical song to de-stigmatise the issue.Young composers and people with experience of mental illness are using the genre of classical song to de-stigmatise the issue.
Related: How a project for disabled teenagers is changing lives
The unique collaboration, which includes compelling descriptions of being sectioned and frank accounts of life with mental illness, culminates in two free public concerts in London. They take place on Tuesday 24 March at St Mary’s Church, near Lewisham hospital, and Wednesday 25 March at Guy’s Chapel, Guy’s hospital.The unique collaboration, which includes compelling descriptions of being sectioned and frank accounts of life with mental illness, culminates in two free public concerts in London. They take place on Tuesday 24 March at St Mary’s Church, near Lewisham hospital, and Wednesday 25 March at Guy’s Chapel, Guy’s hospital.
The Creative Madness in Song project is run by charity Song in the City with The Maudsley Charity, part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The awareness-raising drive involves composers working with texts written by people with experience of conditions such as schizophrenia and depression; the songs are performed by classically-trained singers and pianists.The Creative Madness in Song project is run by charity Song in the City with The Maudsley Charity, part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The awareness-raising drive involves composers working with texts written by people with experience of conditions such as schizophrenia and depression; the songs are performed by classically-trained singers and pianists.
The therapeutic benefits of music are well-documented, but what is less usual is the use of classical song as an artform, especially in a collaboration leading to public performance.The therapeutic benefits of music are well-documented, but what is less usual is the use of classical song as an artform, especially in a collaboration leading to public performance.
Gavin Roberts, Song in the City artistic director, says the aim of the project – which began last year – is to reduce the stigma of mental illness, as well as challenge assumptions about classical music. Roberts explains: “Song is a very traditional genre, we think of it as people clutching a piano, wearing tails and it’s become a very elitist thing; we’re trying to break down those barriers. We put classically-trained musicians with people from ‘the real world’ and we share creativity.”Gavin Roberts, Song in the City artistic director, says the aim of the project – which began last year – is to reduce the stigma of mental illness, as well as challenge assumptions about classical music. Roberts explains: “Song is a very traditional genre, we think of it as people clutching a piano, wearing tails and it’s become a very elitist thing; we’re trying to break down those barriers. We put classically-trained musicians with people from ‘the real world’ and we share creativity.”
Writers were invited to join the project through organisations such as a mental health creative writing group at the Lewisham Volunteer Centre and mental health project the Dragon Café. They collaborated in a series of workshops with composers and singers from King’s College London and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.Writers were invited to join the project through organisations such as a mental health creative writing group at the Lewisham Volunteer Centre and mental health project the Dragon Café. They collaborated in a series of workshops with composers and singers from King’s College London and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
The sessions involved around 25 people, including seven writers and four composers, with guidance from South London and Maudsley clinicians. Funding came from the Maudsley Charity and the Guildhall School’s research fund.The sessions involved around 25 people, including seven writers and four composers, with guidance from South London and Maudsley clinicians. Funding came from the Maudsley Charity and the Guildhall School’s research fund.
The powerful works include Sectioned, a poem by a participant known as Yanamah, set by young freelance composer James Andrewes. Yanamah describes “drowning in the depths of despair … yearning for a glimpse of kindness and a friendly gesture”; before her mental health deteriorated she was “a woman of distinction” but now she is “forgotten and lost”. In a challenge to the public and health professionals, she asks: “What do you know in your sane and charmed life?” The song includes the provocative line: “Open your eyes and see how you really treat me.”The powerful works include Sectioned, a poem by a participant known as Yanamah, set by young freelance composer James Andrewes. Yanamah describes “drowning in the depths of despair … yearning for a glimpse of kindness and a friendly gesture”; before her mental health deteriorated she was “a woman of distinction” but now she is “forgotten and lost”. In a challenge to the public and health professionals, she asks: “What do you know in your sane and charmed life?” The song includes the provocative line: “Open your eyes and see how you really treat me.”
By coincidence, not only did one of Andrewes’ relatives have schizophrenia, but the composer himself has experienced anxiety and depression and was hospitalised under section for a short spell. Now in good mental health, he says: “I’m lucky in that I have an accepting family, my experience was very different to Yanamah’s, but the biggest problem is stigma.” He was attracted to the project due to his own experience and the aim of raising awareness.By coincidence, not only did one of Andrewes’ relatives have schizophrenia, but the composer himself has experienced anxiety and depression and was hospitalised under section for a short spell. Now in good mental health, he says: “I’m lucky in that I have an accepting family, my experience was very different to Yanamah’s, but the biggest problem is stigma.” He was attracted to the project due to his own experience and the aim of raising awareness.
Andrewes set Sectioned as a single voice piece without any piano accompaniment “to emphasise the loneliness”, although he explains the melodic opening and conclusion both hint at the writer’s inner strength. In the song’s accompanying notes, Yanamah writes that “Sectioned is inspired by my true life experiences and that of a close friend. It is also allegorical of the traumatic rejection by my spouse who abandoned me due to my illness.”Andrewes set Sectioned as a single voice piece without any piano accompaniment “to emphasise the loneliness”, although he explains the melodic opening and conclusion both hint at the writer’s inner strength. In the song’s accompanying notes, Yanamah writes that “Sectioned is inspired by my true life experiences and that of a close friend. It is also allegorical of the traumatic rejection by my spouse who abandoned me due to my illness.”
Another poem set by Andrewes, Today I’m on top of the world, portrays the highs and lows of bipolar disorder. A song of contrasts, it includes sorrowful, confused sections, as well as more upbeat moments. Andrewes says he has crafted “intense changeability of mood” into the music. Writer Lucy Lacaille explains in the concert programme notes: “The poem is inspired by the fact that when I’m ‘on a high’, I always know that I will be depressed again soon. Also I was put on an anti-depressant that had a contra-indication to my other medications, and made me hypo-manic”.Another poem set by Andrewes, Today I’m on top of the world, portrays the highs and lows of bipolar disorder. A song of contrasts, it includes sorrowful, confused sections, as well as more upbeat moments. Andrewes says he has crafted “intense changeability of mood” into the music. Writer Lucy Lacaille explains in the concert programme notes: “The poem is inspired by the fact that when I’m ‘on a high’, I always know that I will be depressed again soon. Also I was put on an anti-depressant that had a contra-indication to my other medications, and made me hypo-manic”.
As well as the public awareness-raising involved, Roberts explains that the project forces the music professionals to rethink their traditional approach. He says: “Composers often have an ivory towers mentality, it prompts them to think about their music in a different way.”As well as the public awareness-raising involved, Roberts explains that the project forces the music professionals to rethink their traditional approach. He says: “Composers often have an ivory towers mentality, it prompts them to think about their music in a different way.”
Tom Werner, consultant psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley and a trustee of Song in the City, explains the wider benefits: “People who participated felt part of a group and saw their own pieces set to music which is a tremendous boost … for patients to come and think ‘what I’m doing has value and is appreciated by other people’ is amazing”. As a mental health professional, Werner says the experiences described in songs such as Sectioned also remind him to truly reconsider his approach from the patient’s perspective.Tom Werner, consultant psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley and a trustee of Song in the City, explains the wider benefits: “People who participated felt part of a group and saw their own pieces set to music which is a tremendous boost … for patients to come and think ‘what I’m doing has value and is appreciated by other people’ is amazing”. As a mental health professional, Werner says the experiences described in songs such as Sectioned also remind him to truly reconsider his approach from the patient’s perspective.
For Andrewes, that is exactly the point of the project – to create practical change. “It’s very important to be functional and practical – what can we use our compositions for? The best art is when you can lead people to see things in a different way.”For Andrewes, that is exactly the point of the project – to create practical change. “It’s very important to be functional and practical – what can we use our compositions for? The best art is when you can lead people to see things in a different way.”