Beyond the Stigma Workshops – Helping break the stigma of mental health in Sandwell

“Beyond the Stigma” will bring together South Asian women from across Sandwell to contribute to a social media campaign that will challenge the stigma that surrounds mental health within their communities and encourage others to engage in the online conversation.

Changing Our Lives will facilitate virtual creative workshops with award winning poet and spoken word artist, Shareefa Energy, to explore how the arts can be a powerful way to share experiences and challenge myths surrounding mental health. The workshop will support self-expression and celebrate inner strength and value, giving women the opportunity to explore ideas and develop their own writing and creative work to share in the social media campaign. To hear a performance from Shareefa, head over to YouTube.

There will also be the chance for your work to be published in a digital book of poetry and have your work shared in a Poetry Slam. An £80 voucher will be awarded to a piece of work selected by the judging panel. To be involved with the project, you must live in Sandwell, and identify as being a South Asian woman.

There are currently no fixed dates in place. The workshops will be arranged to suit those taking part.

To express your interest, please email Georgia at georgia@changingourlives.org.

If you have any further questions about the campaign, please get in touch with Georgia.