Today is World Mental Health Day, the annual celebration of mental health education, awareness and advocacy. Living with Schizophrenia is this year’s focus, with 26 million people across the world affected by the disorder. To mark this important day we have events running up and down Scotland for you to get involved with.
If you enjoy theatre, why not go to Tomorrow by Vanishing Point at the Tramway, Glasgow. Described as ‘brutally beautiful and it makes you shiver’ in The Guardian, this new work explores what it is to grow old in a world where myth and spirituality have been subsumed by what we all know to be true – that we are born, we live and we die.
If you would prefer to discuss the nitty gritty issues surrounding the role of institutions and the future of mental health care in the UK, head along to our Encountering RD Lang: Health, Care and Creativity Conference at the University of Glasgow. Focusing on the life and work of Scotland’s famous and controversial psychiatrist, Ronald David Laing (1927-1989), this Wellcome Trust supported event seeks to start critical conversations across disciplines professions and communities.
If you are going to be in Edinburgh, Lothian on Film will be at Peter Potter Gallery where an exciting selection of short films made in and around the Lothians will be shown. The films (documentary, fiction, animation and film-art) are made by members of Midlothian Men’s SHARE Project, the Stepping Stones Project (now the Alma Project), CAPS Advocacy, MECOPP and many more.
Also in Edinburgh is the striking and provocative Out of Sight / Out of Mind exhibition, running in venues across Ediburgh, the exihibition is led by Caps Advicacy and showcases work from people with lived expereince of mental ill health.
Renfrewshire will hold a number of exciting events including the launch of the Art Trail Express exhibition, at Paisley Gilmour Street train station at 9.24am. Withered Hand will also present his long-awaited new album ‘New Gods’ with support from Marie Collins and Laura St Jude, at the Paisley Arts Centre.
If that isn’t enough, you can celebrate the traditions of Scottish Gypsy/ Travellers with storytelling from the acclaimed author Jess Smith and drama from Breeze Productions at Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Life in the Towers, a fascinating documentary filmed in Muirhouse, Motherwell following the residents living in high rise towers and the surrounding community, will be shown at the Glo Centre, Motherwell, and there will be an evening of music at the Rothes Halls from local Fife bands including Contact Point, David Crowe, Mathew Roll Bob n’ Gerry, Hot Cars and Country Folk.
If you are unable to go to one of our events, why not support the Random Act of Kindness Day running in the Highlands and Moray and send us a photo of a Random Act of Kindness via Facebook & Twitter: #smhaff2014 @HighlandCouncil
To learn more about what Schizophrenia is and how you can support the Mental Health Foundation’s work, please click here.