Tuesday, 01 October
World Mental Health Day
Artist Interview
Artist Spotlight
DART
Inclusivity
This #WorldMentalHealthDay we've been chatting with musician and mental health advocate Craig GouldĀ all about his personal experiences with mental health and how they have influenced his practice.
Can you share how your journey with mental health has influenced your music?
Back in 2016, I collapsed in the workplace, hitting my head quite badly in the process. At the time, I was working within the rail industry and held a senior management position. Iād spent years working my way through various management and leadership roles, and despite excelling within my career, my mental health had taken a battering.
The stress these positions can come with can take its toll, and thatās what happened in my case. I was later diagnosed with a severe mental breakdown; my collapse being the result of the body and mind simply saying it could not continue any longer within the current situation. It took me what felt like an age to get myself back into the world, later being diagnosed with PTSD alongside depression and severe anxiety.Ā
As I began to process where I had been and what I needed to do to heal, I picked up my guitar for the first time in years. I found the process of playing rather meditative and songs literally fell out of me. For me, music began to unlock my illness and allowed me to reflect on the journey Iād been on, giving me the strength to look towards a brighter future.
Have there been times when making or listening to music helped you process difficult emotions or mental health challenges?
As a writer and performer, Iāve found music an integral part of my journey to recovery. Itās allowed me the space to reflect and process a life-changing experience and it's inspired me to become a stronger version of myself. But itās not just from this perspective that music has helped me; listening to music was also a huge factor during my recovery.
In the early days of my illness, I struggled to leave the house. Simple trips such as shopping or going to the doctor had become so difficult, and often, despite trying, Iād never actually make it to where I needed to go. Listening to music through headphones as I attempted these trips helped me focus, and became part of my routine to help me complete daily tasks that I often took for granted. Iād listen to music through headphones at home, trying to spot all the subtle nuances each artist had created in their recordings. It was meditation. I was living in the moment and giving myself something to focus on that wasnāt the usual ruminations around my poor mental health. Music literally helped me breathe.Ā
What advice would you give to fans or fellow musicians who are struggling with their mental health?
Firstly, I would say that you are not alone. So many people out there have mental health issues and just knowing that there are other people out there who may feel like you do can really help.
Mental illness is a real health issue and it needs to be treated in society just the same as a broken leg. You see someone with their leg in plaster on crutches and you know they are struggling. You may ask them if they need help carrying their drinks to the table in a cafe. We need to remember that our mental health is not as easily seen, so we should be gentler, kinder and more patient with everyone on a day-to-day basis. We do not know what people are going through, so just being a bit more considerate could really help someone out. Secondly, Iād like to say that no matter how bad things may feel, you will get through it.
Tomorrow is another day, so if you didnāt manage to do something today, itās ok to try again tomorrow. Move at your own pace and in your own time. You got this!
Are there any organisations or resources you recommend for people looking to improve their mental health?
There are lots of great resources out there - many people are unaware that the NHS has a service called Talking TherapiesĀ which you can contact and self-refer to! It bypasses needing to see your GP and allows you to contact a professional mental health team directly. They offer help with common mental health problems like anxiety and depression with services such as CBT, talking therapy and counselling.
Iāve also had the pleasure of partnering with the amazing people at Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - they provide life-saving services, information and support for anyone struggling with the issues that life can throw at us. They can be contacted any day between 5pm and midnight on 0800 585858.
Is there a particular moment in your life or career that made you proud of your mental health journey?
The songs on my debut album āSongs from the Campfireā were all written during the time of my recovery from mental health illness. I partnered with the mental health charity CALM and donated the profits from the album to them. We turned the darkest moments of my life into support for those in desperate need. The album received amazing support and recognition and hit the top 20 in three of the UKās Official Albums Charts. Weāve continued to spread the word that mental illness can affect anyone, and also show that you can be extremely ill with your mental health and still come back from it. I know that this project has helped people and that is something Iām immensely proud of.
For more information on mental health support please speak to friends and family, visit Mind or take a look at the NHS website.
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