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                                                                                                Mental Health

I have worked using drama within mental health settings since 1989. In 1994 I co-founded Act Up a theatre company comprised of mental health service users. In 1997 this became part of Rethink (formally National Schizophrenia Society). I managed rethink until September 2003 when I left Rethink to join the NHS. Act Up still continue to thrive. I miss working there but still keep in regular contact with Act Up and its members and staff. 

I was particularly proud of a film I made with Act Up in 2002. A 38 minute film based on employment and mental health issues.

Act Up continue to receive funding support from Dudley Metropolitan Council Social Services department, and continue to create several ground breaking pieces of theatre on mental health and:

• stigma      
• young peoples issues
• employment
• cultural diversity

Right: Act Up members at a performance

As an initiative developed out of Act Up I coordinated a mental health project called DARTS  -  Dudley arts project worked with 100 mental health users over  two years in all art forms. Rethink in Dudley did this in conjunction Fircroft College Birmingham with a grant from the Adult Community Fund. This exciting project also developed a small community play for local Dudley Colleges and put on an exhibition of the art work created. This project came to an end in April 2004 and was coordinated by some of the artists in conjunction with Act Up.

 'When we act something out, we always seem to have a healthier control of it than if we try to pretend it doesn't exist.'  John Hodgson- The Uses of Drama