With evidence dating back to over 1000 years, music is the oldest and longest running form of therapy for people experiencing mental distress.
Music 2 Empower is an initiative by Cygnet Health Care to bring the positive effects of music therapy across our services.
As part of the latest episode of Music 2 Empower we follow the journey of Cray Allen AKA ‘Sloth’, a now discharged service user from Cygnet Hospital Blackheath. In this episode, Cray explains how music has been key in supporting his recovery journey and on his positive experiences at Cygnet Hospital Blackheath.
The camera team followed Cray for the day as he went to a local recording studio on leave, whilst supported by a former service user and now Expert by Experience, Duvonne Soloman. Duvonne has not only been a service user at Cygnet Hospital Blackheath but is also a musician himself who has also featured in an earlier Music 2 Empower Episode.
Cray explains: “It makes me feel like I have an outlet to actually put all of my energy, my efforts and all my thoughts, all of the Schizophrenia and all the problems, to take them out of my head and put them on a page. In a way where other people can hear it and relate to it and hopefully it helps people.”
In the latest trip to the recording studio, both Cray and Duvonne collaborated on a song called ‘My Life’ in which Duvonne sings a catchy chorus whilst Cray takes the lead on the verses rapping about his life stating ‘My love for my family will keep me sane, will keep me safe after I’ve been through pain.’
Raf Hamaizia, Expert by Experience Lead at Cygnet Health Care states: “That is what the Music 2 Empower project is about, it’s about empowering people and giving people new opportunities to be able to access resources.”
Cray has been able to perform his music at the annual National Service User Awards and even develop an album during his period with Cygnet Hospital Blackheath. He has since been discharged and is planning on coming back to Cygnet to work as an Expert by Experience.
Please check out Cray’s video below: