In this TEDMED talk, concert pianist Zsolt Bognor speaks briefly to his experience of depression and how he found comfort and healing in classical music. Bognor also shares with viewers two of his favourite pieces by Austrian composer Franz Peter Schubert who was believed to have struggled with depression too.
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Do you think music can be therapeutic when it comes to mental health? What songs do you listen to that provide you with solace or work to lift your spirits?

Catch up on all the news related to mental health and psychiatry from last week!

Are you a fan of hip-hop ‎music‬? If so, consider checking out HIP HOP PSYCH, a ‪mental health‬ awareness initiative founded by a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who both love rap music. The pair has been using the genre for anti-stigma campaigns and outreach work in prisons, schools and youth hostels to educate individuals in a culturally and contextually enhanced way.

To get an idea of what they do, check out their latest essay which explores music by Eminem and Tupac to examine mental health themes including ‪psychosis‬ and social adversity here:
http://www.hiphoppsych.co.uk/…/hhp_tupac_eminem_freestyle_m…

"It might seem outlandish that rap can aid mental illness, but it’s not outrageously far-fetched. Since its early roots in the politically-deprived ganglands of the South Bronx, hip-hop culture has provided MCs, turntablists, B-boys and graffiti artists with an important source of empowerment. For three decades, it's offered an outlet for the apparently powerless to express themselves and a way of giving voice to their problems. If one truth in psychology is universally acknowledged, it’s that you can’t deal with pain without talking about it.

What’s less known, though, is that hip-hop is steeped in explicit and implicit references to mental illness. From Stan’s Borderline Personality Disorder to Tupac’s paranoia and psychosis, hip-hop lyrics are rich with insights into the symptoms of illnesses and the risk factors prevalent within peer groups, families and gangs. Last year, scientific research showed that gang membership is closely linked to an increased risk of psychiatric problems, and Hip Hop Psych looks to use J Cole and Kendrick as teaching tools to help combat them."

For more information, check out these sites:
http://www.hiphoppsych.co.uk/index.html
http://www.thestar.com/life/2015/10/26/hip-hop-psych-raising-awareness-about-mental-health-through-music.html

On the opening night of the Canadian Psychiatric Association conference, we had a chance to attend a unique musical forum held by Robb Nash and his bandmates.

For those who don't know Robb, as a teenager he suffered a life-threatening car accident. On top of significant physical injuries, Robb also experienced "anger, self-doubt and depression‬". However, Robb found passion and purpose in music‬, which helped his body, soul and mind recover. Since then Robb has been using his story and musical talents to connect with youth and talk about tough subjects like mental health‬. He and his band now travel across Canada, providing free shows at schools, youth centres, and even detention facilities, to help individuals discover their significance and find inner hope.

While it is obvious that Robb has had a profound impact on countless lives, his project has also helped to save lives as to date they report that over 350 students have turned in suicide notes to them following their shows. You can find out more about The Robb Nash Project and download their songs for free by clicking here: http://robbnash.com/

"The Robb Nash Project engages young people through the power of music and words, encouraging them to make positive life choices and lead lives of significance and purpose...

Through personal stories, song and video, Robb sensitively deals with serious issues including drug and alcohol ‪addiction, bullying, self-harm, #depression and suicide‬. He inspires youth to stay hopeful, recognize their unique strengths and make positive choices."

If you've watched the original Orange Is the New Black trailer, then Rilo Kiley's song "A Better Son/Daughter" may sound familiar to you ...

Thought to be about bipolar disorder, the song lyrics depict the unpredictable nature of the illness, and highlighting the swings from depression to a state of mania. The song ultimately describes the individual's search for strength to continue moving forward while in the midst of battling against an extreme low.

"Sometimes in the morning I am petrified and can't move
Awake but cannot open my eyes
And the weight is crushing down on my lungs
I know I can't breathe
And hope someone will save me this time
And your mother's still calling you insane and high
Swearing it's different this time"

Deryck Whibley, frontman of the Canadian rock band Sum 41, and former husband of Avril Lavigne, recently went public about his battle with alcohol addiction in an interview with CBC and posts on his own website following a month-long hospitalization due to his alcohol use. You can read more about Whibley's story and his road to recovery at the links below ...

"hey everyone, it’s deryck here. sorry i’ve been so m.i.a. lately, but i’ve been very sick in the hospital for a month and was pretty sick for a few weeks leading up to my trip to the hospital. the reason i got so sick is from all the hard boozing i’ve been doing over the years. it finally caught up to me. i was drinking hard every day. until one night. i was sitting at home, poured myself another drink around mid night and was about to watch a movie when all of a sudden i didn’t feel so good. i then collapsed to the ground unconscious. my fiancé got me rushed to the hospital where they put me into the intensive care unit. i was stuck with needles and i.v.’s all over. i was completely sedated the FIRST WEEK. when i finally woke up the next day i had no idea where i was. my mum and step dad were standing over me. i was so freaked out. my liver and kidney’s collapsed on me. needless to say it scared me straight. i finally realized i can’t drink anymore. if i have one drink the doc’s say i will die. i’m not preaching or anything but just always drink responsibly. i didn’t, and look where that got me" (http://www.deryckwhibley.net/).

"Deryck Whibley: 'I had pretty much just damaged everything'" by Geoff Nixon (CBC)

City and Colour are well-known for their emotive and soul-touching songs.  Their 2011 album Little Hell especially was a very personal album for the group's frontman Dallas Green, as through many of the songs Green pours out his innermost feelings, and through soothing and beautiful vocals touches on some of the most troubling experiences that he and his loved ones have faced.  The Grand Optimist for example, touches on "his own pessimistic view of the world and his father's upbeat perspective" (CTV), while Fragile Bird explores his wife's nightmares and night terrors, and Little Hell is "is about the "ups and downs" in all relationships, and the pain that can be inflicted by two people who love each other" (CTV).

One song on the album stands out though, besides being incredibly heart-wrenching, honest, and captivating, the song O'Sister (found below) also touches on mental health.  Through the song, Green delves into his sister's struggles with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and shares his guilt for being away on tour and not being there to support her.  

Green's sister Jordan, further discusses her diagnosis and experiences with GAD, as well as how music has helped her to recover in an article for the St. Catherine Standard, which can be found here:  http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2011/10/13/music-heals-me-says-dallas-greens-sister-jordan