Making music for recovery

A music project that helps people with mental health issues has held its seventh annual event, the Back Door Music Project.

The musical madness scheme uses music to develop confidence, self-esteem, skills and interests, which helps service users on their journey to discharge and helps to tackle the stigma around mental health.

Over the last six months, service users from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Rehabilitation and High Support Directorate (RHSD), have written, recorded or selected music and poems to accompany a pop video which they filmed and edited.

Eleven music videos were created, including a mixture of performance, narrative and abstract themes, which were then showcased at the event at The Curtain Theatre in Rochdale.

The project is included as part of the Occupational Therapy Team’s Social Inclusion Programme, which empowers people to try things they had not thought they were capable of and to see their own strengths.

Gemma Kirk, Senior Occupational Therapist with Pennine Care, said: "It's great to see our service users really enjoying themselves, learning new skills and benefitting from seeing the project through to completion.

"Most of the process isn't captured in the final piece, such as forming friendships, expressing thoughts and feelings and overcoming fears - so it's all really worthwhile.

“The project and the gig itself were thoroughly enjoyed by all, and it was great to see those involved get to express their emotions and feel more socially included with the community.”

One participant of the project said: “It means I can be seen in a different light by friends, family and staff, who previously might have just seen me as a patient on the ward.”

Another added: “It helps me recognise that we all have different problems, but this brings us together.”

The next project is due to start in May, beginning with workshops and discussions to decide what the focus will be.