There’s been a shocking 60% increase in children and young people experiencing mental health problems since 2017. We believe young people have the solutions to this crisis.
A Big Conversation is a youth-led research project that brought together Lewisham partners, Sound Like Chaos, Lewisham Music, Heart N Soul, Lewisham Youth Theatre and the Albany, in our London Borough of Culture year to understand the role arts and creativity play in the mental health of young people. You can find out more about some of their projects below.
Watch the film:
Lewisham Music – Front Lines, Young Minds
Lewisham Music creates positive change in young people’s lives through music. Their five-part podcast series, Front Lines, Young Minds delves into the connection between music and young people’s mental health, as well as issues such as the real cost of working in music as a woman. It was created by their team of young producers and features a range of special guests and performances.
You can find out more on the Lewisham Music website.
The Albany and Sounds Like Chaos – I’m not okay but…
Sounds Like Chaos are a Lewisham based collective of 12-25 year olds, who aim to reimagine the future of the creative industries. They are Associate Artists at the Albany.
Marlo and Phoebe, two young artists working with the Albany and Sounds Like Chaos, have created a podcast series in conversation with their friends and fellow artists. Marlo and Phoebe ask their guests how creativity has supported mental health during critical times.
Alongside the podcast, a report has been published on the links between art, creativity and mental health. You can read the report here.
Heart n Soul – What Makes You Good?
Heart n Soul is an award-winning creative arts organisation which believes in the power and talent of people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Four of their young creatives created a video podcast, What Makes You Good?, developing their confidence and skills in video and podcast production along the way.
Join Ella, David, DJ Sted and DJ Keegs as they explore ‘What Makes You Good?’. In each episode Ella and David talk to guests from the local community, plus artists, musicians and activists and DJ Sted and DJ Keegs provide the tunes to keep everyone feeling good!
Filmed at the Albany, each episode will be available on YouTube and Soho Radio plus an accompanying Spotify playlist (coming soon).
Lewisham Youth Theatre
Lewisham Youth Theatre brings young people together from across the Lewisham community to create outstanding theatre. For their project they provided training and mentoring to support young people in becoming workshop facilitators, empowering them to use drama to open up conversations around mental health and wellbeing.
Listen to LYT facilitator Subira talking about how creativity empowers young voices in her TED Talk: