A Birmingham City University academic is encouraging West Midlands residents to open up about their experiences of mental health for a specially commissioned piece of music.
The ideas shared will be combined to create a unique piece of music for The People’s Orchestra and Show Choirs which will premiere in a concert next year.
The initiative, known as ‘Page to Stage’, invites anyone with an interest in mental health to get involved, and no musical training is necessary.
An initial workshop will take place on Saturday 16 November at West Bromwich Town Hall, culminating in an informal performance to family and friends.
This comes as people across the globe got together to raise awareness of mental health on ‘World Mental Health Day’ yesterday.
Kim Moore, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at Birmingham City University, is supporting the event. She said: “It is always good to get people talking about their experiences of mental health and this is a novel and fun way to do so.
“The more we open up about our own experiences, the more we can reduce the stigma around mental health.
“I’m really looking forward to being a part of this initiative and would encourage anyone who wants to share their experiences to come along.”
People can register for the workshop on 16 November by calling 0121 569 2616 or visiting The People’s Box Office website.