Curtain goes up on good mental health

Nov 5 2008 by Graham Miller, Wishaw Press

PEOPLE from across Lanarkshire showed off their talents to promote positive mental health at this year’s ‘Well Factor.

The showcase, at Motherwell Concert Hall, was part of Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. It featured around 50 performers from all over Lanarkshire playing to an audience of about 450 people.

The evening began with traditional pipe music from the NHS Lanarkshire Pipers – Gareth Rudolph, Stephen Kerr and Duncan Clark.

They were followed by the Getting Better Together Dance Squad, which is made up of young people, aged 10 to 15-years-old, from the Shotts area.

The All Stars performed Country Star Cinderella, which was devised by the cast from an original story outline by group member Marion Rae Caven, with support from Bazooka Arts.

The All Stars Theatre Group provides the opportunity for adults with disabilities to experience greater autonomy and equality through theatre.

George Boyd and Peter Nardini provided a musical interlude with their blend of traditional and contemporary folk music.

Next, there was comedy from A Stage Further Two with This The One? The group meet on a weekly basis and believe in the therapeutic benefits experienced through participating in drama and comedy.

Universal Comedy, whose aim is to improve mental health and wellbeing, dished up more comedy – with a dash of magic.

There was a musical end to the evening provided by Sing Me, which is a choir made up of Lanarkshire Links members and associate members.

Avril Thomson, senior health promotion officer for NHS Lanarkshire, said: “This year’s ‘Well Factor was a real success.”

Ann-Marie Newman, of service user and carer’s group Lanarkshire Links, said: “ This stigma stops people recovering their lives. We need positive stories held up as an example of what can happen.”