Rethink Your Mind: Thanks Stephen Fry!
TALENTED STEPHANIE HITS THE TOP SPOT
IN POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
A CREATIVE Bo'ness student’s winning words are to be turned into a band’s hit to bang the drum for mental health, and she has Stephen Fry to thank for it.
Stephanie Rose spotted Stephen’s tweet about the awareness raising project Rethink Your Mind, and she was prompted to enter her poem This World.
It was selected by a star-studded judging panel, including acclaimed poets Jean Binta Breeze, Adam Horovitz, and Lydia Towsey. for the A side of acoustic band Refuge’s new single.
“I was so surprised to get the call to say I’d won. It didn’t hit me until I hung up, and then I got really excited,” says poetry-loving Stephanie who crafted her piece in 30 minutes.
“I can’t describe how special it will be to have my words sung,” adds the 21 year-old marine biology undergraduate who’s in her final year at Stirling University, and currently lives with her proud parents, classroom assistant mum Susan and bricklayer dad David.
As well as seeing her work enshrined in music, Stephanie gets an iPad and will join five other winners at the May 1 presentation at the House of Lords, hosted by project supporter Professor Lord Patel of Bradford OBE.
“That’s exciting too,” she says. “I’ve never even been to London.”
Her poem will also feature on the www.rethinkyourmind.co.uk website and in a hardback book, aimed at providing a valuable mental health help guide that will link up support organisations with the people who need them most.
Nationwide organisations, mental health groups and NHS Trusts are given a free platform in the project, launched by Midlands-based community interest company SISO (Safe Inside, Safe Outside) and Citizens’ Eye.
Rethink Your Mind is the brainchild of SISO Development Worker and Refuge lead singer Peter Hirst, who hopes the project will get people talking positively about mental health.
Stephanie is all for that. “There are so many stigmas still attached to mental illness and there shouldn’t be. It’s just another kind of health problem,” she says.
“Rethink Your Mind is all about celebrating creativity, shattering the stigmas and reaching the thousands of people who may feel like they’re suffering alone,” adds Peter, who has Bipolar.
“We have been inspired by the submitted wonderful words and artwork, and can’t wait to sing Stephanie’s wonderfully uplifting words.”
The hardback book, which includes 20 pages of SISO recovery material and a foreword by Professor Lord Patel of Bradford OBE, will be made available to all supporting NHS Trusts.
Refuge’s CD and urban fusion artist Rubie Colt’s single - both of which feature winning artwork and lyrics - will be released on July 1.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For more information, please email lynne.powell@crucialpr.com">lynne.powell@crucialpr.com
2. We can provide Stephanie’s poem This World in full, if you would like to publish or broadcast it.
3. The six winners are: Andy Gardiner , Tiverton, Devon (Rubie Colt CD cover artwork); David Holloway Bedford (B side Rubie Colt CD Poem and artwork in book); Saiqa Parveen, Halifax (B side Refuge CD Poem); Stephanie Rose, Bo‘ness, West Lothian, Scotland (A side Refuge CD Lyrics); Lucy Whitehouse, Worcs (Refuge CD cover artwork); Ella Zellaby, Rochester, Kent (A side Rubie Colt CD Lyrics).
4. There are 40 other poems and artworks selected for the hardback book. A full list can be found on the website www.rethinkyourmind.co.uk
5. The full list of judges is: Artist Gary Hodges: Poet and Performer Jean Binta Breeze; Photographer and Printmaker Jenny Escritt; Steven McLoughlin artist, Keith Cooper Photographer Poet and Performer Lydia Towsey; Poet and Performer Adam Horovitz; Artist Sally Waterman.
6. SISO empowers mental health service users to become valued, active members of their communities and works to reduce stigma associated with mental health. SISO promotes self-management, hope and optimism. For more information please log onto www.s-i-s-o.org.uk
7. For more information about Citizens’ Eye, please log onto www.citizenseye.org
