Monday 10th October is World Mental Health Day.

First celebrated in 1992, it aims to draw awareness and understanding of mental health issues, education and advocacy, and is recognised in more than 150 countries across the globe.

This year's specific theme focuses on making mental health and well-being a global priority.

Music Matters

As reported on 4BR, composer Gavin Higgins and mental health advocate Tabby Kerwin were recently guests on Radio 3's arts programme 'Music Matters' (Friday 7th October).

Dedicated to 'Music and Mental Health', presenters Tom Service and Dr Sally Marlow explored the topic through the lens of two themes: How music helps mental health and how musicians' lives are most exposed to the power of music to help or hinder their mental health.

Life saving

As Gavin Higgins said: "Things like music seem frivolous when people can't keep their homes and people can't afford to feed their kids. But it is not a frivolous thing. It's important. It's lifesaving."

Gavin spoke about his early life and mental health issues, as well as his how his recent 'Concerto Grosso' featured at the Proms with Tredegar Band and the National Orchestra of Wales has made such a positive impact. Excerpts of the performance were featured.

Awareness

Tabby talked about the pressures of judgment and competition in performance, as well as in running bands. She told 4BR: "It was a privilege to be invited to take part and bring more focus and awareness around mental health withing the brass band movement.

Brass bands offer us a unique environment to support the mental health of our musicians, and this is what I advocate for through 'Brass on the Mind', as we look to start conversation and hold discussions about the ways this can best be done as well as supporting bands through awareness training."

The programme also visited Bethlem Gallery to meet Gawain Hewitt and Fiona Lambert from City of London Sinfonia's 'Sound Young Minds' project, a music-making programme with young people under the care of psychiatric hospitals.

It was a privilege to be invited to take part and bring more focus and awareness around mental health withing the brass band movementTabby Kerwin

SBBA support

The broadcast came as the Scottish Brass Band Association has hosted another subsidised mental health awareness session for member bands with Tabby.

"That was really important with some really interesting conversations about supporting musicians of all ages and especially for those with neurodiversity.

I am grateful to SBBA for its commitment to supporting the mental health of its member bands."

Find out more

To join the conversations and find out more follow 'Brass on the Mind' on Instagram and Facebook and visit www.modefor.co.uk

To listen to the Music Matters show visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001cns4