Bringing mental health conversation to schools through music
How to talk to middle school and high school students about mental health? How do you reach out to them and make sure they feel heard and understood? Teen years are both challenging and exciting. There are so many questions that expect their answers. Many topics that have been discussed and many still, that have not received enough attention. Psychosis is one of them. Although depression and anxiety have taken front row whenever we discuss mental health in our everyday lives, according to reachoutpsychosis.com, psychosis affects 3% of the population and is 6 times more common than diabetes, with the first onset usually occuring between ages 16 and 25.
ReachOut Psychosis is a program developed and delivered by the BC Schizophrenia Society for HereToHelp. Funding for the project was provided by BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, an agency of PHSA.
ReachOut’s unconventional format includes a one hour assembly presentation full of life-saving information, brain science and music which helps students who may be experiencing psychosis as well identify it in those close to them.
Singer/songwriter Sarah Jickling and her band Good Bad Luck, are integral part of each one of the events. Living with bipolar and anxiety disorder herself, Sarah expresses her own mental health struggles through art, performing at over 158 schools for the last 13 years.
What is ReachOut tour?
- ReachOut is geared to secondary and post-secondary students, starting with teens ages 13 and up.
- The sensory-rich, interactive show is designed for seated groups of 300 or more, in an assembly format.
- The show is presented by professional performers who have years of experience playing for youth.
- It is presented free of charge to school across British Columbia and has also toured to the Yukon Territories
— Perpetua Siglos
moodsmart 