1 in 5 young people are likely to have a mental health condition, up from 1 in 9 in 2017 (NHS Digital, November 2023). Change needs to happen.

 

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek 

 

We believe young people have the solutions to this crisis, and to truly understand and help their mental health, we need to work closely with them, empowering them to have a voice and be heard.

 

Please have a watch of this short video, we hope the words from Sam, Tendo and Charlotte resonate with you, help you realise you’re not alone, and that you can overcome anything.

 

 

 

 

“Growing up, I had a lot of mental health issues, feeling unwanted, feeling like there was no place for me society. When I was like 8, I wrote my first song. I just remember spending the whole day writing it. In that moment, it just took me to another place. All this stuff that’s happening around me didn’t matter.”

 

 

We’re constantly exploring the connection between music/creativity and mental health. One of the key areas of our work is exploring how creative music-making has a positive impact on young people’s mental health, and we are continually developing projects and programmes that help us understand and assess this impact, with outcomes including greater self-expression, reduced anxiety, and better social connectedness with others.

 

“Music is like free therapy”

 

 

We want to actively engage, understand, and openly discuss mental health, both within the charity and with everyone we work with.

 

 

 

Front Line Young Minds

Listen to our youth-led podcast series exploring the connection between music and mental health, particularly amongst young people.

 

Listen this way

 

A Big Conversation

A Big Conversation is a youth-led research project that brought together Lewisham partners: Lewisham Music, The Albany, SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS, Heart n Soul, and Lewisham Youth Theatre, in Lewisham’s London Borough of Culture year to understand the role arts and creativity play in the mental health of young people.

 

Explore the project

 

“Music has always been the solution. I feel like if you don’t have someone to talk to, then it’s me expressing myself. It’s the way I live and breathe.”

 

 

 

If you’re struggling with anything then please reach out, if you don’t want to talk then we can at least offer a safe space for you to find a positive outlet, and we’ll be here to support you.

 

Useful links

Here are a few useful links where you can find more support and information about mental health.

 

Lewisham Wellbeing Hub Maudsley Charity Young Minds Mental Health Foundation Mind Samaritans Music Minds Matter The Mix Papyrus Hopeline247 Kooth