Let’s Talk about Mental Health
Sandra Griffiths, founder of Red Earth Collective says:
“People with mental health issues are often seen as a set of symptoms. There’s not much of a human connection between doctors and patients and people are also stigmatised in their own communities,”
The Red Earth Collective uses the arts to stimulate dialogue about mental health amongst marginalised and racialised communities in Birmingham. Working with a range of partners, practitioners and artists, the collective creates events and workshops that use theatre, music, film and discussion to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes and support better mental health and wellbeing. Together they created a platform to challenge mental health discrimination in marginalised communities, empower people in recognising signs of mental ill-health, and discussing their own wellbeing.
At the Bedlam Arts and Mental Health Festival, held in Birmingham in 2021, Red Earth Collective delivered an eight-week programme that mentored six Black adults with lived experience of poor mental health and different levels of experience in writing and performance, to create new spoken word performances that shared their experiences with the festival audience.
“We explore the stigma that individuals from marginalised communities face when they attempt to speak about their emotions; giving a ‘voice’ and stage to those with poor mental health to break down misconceptions and prejudices and encouraging honest discussions about mental health.”
Red Earth Collective also produced a scratch performance of “Rose Ward”, a new play about the playwright’s own experience in psychiatric care, which was directed by Cory Campbell, creative director at The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, and supported by the REP and MAC Theatres in Birmingham who provided free rehearsal and performance space. As well as two public performances in the city, the team also put on a performance for service users, carers and staff at the Tamarind Centre, a medium-secure mental health service.
URB_ART spoke to Nick Schlittner, Development Director. The Red Earth Collective (www.redearthcollective.org.uk) are a Black-led, Birmingham based organisation that use the arts to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination in racialised and marginalised communities.
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