Write and sing your way to better mental health

We are encouraging people to improve their mental health and wellbeing by connecting with others through a programme of creative activity right here in the Borders for the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival. This year's festival will focus on the theme 'connected'.

National research shows that social isolation and loneliness are experienced in all communities, with 1 in 10 people in Scotland stating that they often feel lonely. Loneliness can affect all age groups and can have a big impact on our health and wellbeing. In rural communities it can sometimes be particularly hard to find ways to connect with other people and to get involved in activities.

Plans for the Borders programme of festival events, which will take place in May, are already well under way. In fact there are already ways you can begin to get involved now, for example rehearsing a new song with your friends or writing for a special edition of The Eildon Tree magazine. Find out more below:

• Writing for Wellbeing: The Eildon Tree magazine, which publishes new creative writing from the Borders and beyond, is dedicating its next issue to writing focused on the festival theme 'Connected'. Whether you are brand new to writing or are a published author, we would welcome submissions of writing, poetry, short stories, reflections (max 3000 words), artwork or photography (high resolution only) on the theme of being connected and how that relates to mental health and wellbeing. The deadline for submissions is Friday 22 March and should be sent electronically to: eildontree@liveborders1.org.uk
• Song Wave: Earlier this year the Borders Youth Music Forum 'Sound Cycle' put out a call requesting contributions for a new song in tribute of local singer and musician Scott Hutchison, front man of the well-loved band Frightened Rabbit, who died in May last year. The new song is being curated and arranged by Clare Watson, local voice coach and singing tutor, and will be inspired by the Frightened Rabbit song 'The Loneliness and the Scream'. The song will recognise the importance of connecting with the people around you. The network is hoping to get everyone singing on Friday 17 May to create a 'wave of song' connecting people across the Borders, with organised and pop-up performances posted on social media using #SongWave. Any groups, choirs, schools or individuals interested in learning and performing in the song wave should register their interest by emailing: health.improvement@borders.scot.nhs.uk
• 100 Heads Film: In partnership with NHS Borders, Works+, are producing a short film to be shown at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival and you could be part of it! The 100 heads film will ask people from the Scottish Borders to give a one word response to the question "How do you feel today?". To express an interest in taking part, and find out when Works+ will be filming in your area, please visit their Facebook page or email enquiries@worksplus.works

Allyson McCollam, Associate Director of Public Health, said: "I am delighted that we have some opportunities for people in the Borders to be involved in the Scottish Arts and Mental Health Festival this year. There is increasing recognition of social isolation and loneliness as major public health issues and research has also shown the beneficial impact that the arts and creativity can have on mental health and wellbeing. The festival theme of being connected gives us an opportunity to put those things together and I'd like to encourage people of all ages to get involved, either with the writing or singing project or by connecting with other people to do something creative in their own community. I am looking forward to seeing what this leads to".

Lynne Irons, Director at Live Borders, said: "Talking about mental health is not something everyone is comfortable with. The most basic of opportunities such as singing, connecting with others, trying a new creative activity can make the world of difference for our wellbeing. Charity Live Borders offers a range services to enable people to be creative and connect to others in their local community – simply visiting the local library or community centre can open up a world of opportunities.

"Working with health improvement and other partners, Live Borders supports the promotion of positive mental health and offer many opportunities for people of interests and ages to be healthier, happier and stronger. The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival is a great opportunity to showcase and celebrate the opportunities for people to be connected and be well in the Scottish Borders."