In her continued work to advocate for better mental health awareness and support in the brass band movement, writer, conversationalist and mental health trainer Tabby Kerwin has launched a new course which could help musicians in brass bands help support themselves and others.

Own speed

The new Mode for… Mental Health Awareness Course (MAC) is a downloadable three-module video course which anyone can follow at their own speed in the security of their own surroundings.

Tabby told 4BR: "I know there are so many people that want to understand more about mental health and be more aware to help and support themselves, friends, families and banding colleagues.

However, they don't have either the confidence, time or access to courses, so I wanted to create something valuable and important that could be done safely and in a flexible way."

Three modules

Tabby explained that the course is divided into three modules and looks at a range of areas including what is mental health, managing stress, rejecting stigma, talking and listening and issues surrounding recovery.

The aim is to deliver the modules in a safe and sensitive way to help people, as she says, to become mental health 'savvy'.

It's knowledge that I believe everyone should have. I think the lockdown has made more people aware of the importance of supporting better mental healthTabby Kerwin

Own home

She continued: "It's knowledge that I believe everyone should have. I think the lockdown has made more people aware of the importance of supporting better mental health.

It's a perfect time for everyone in banding to gain a better understanding and awareness and this course is an ideal way to do.

It's information that's easy to understand and that can be absorbed in the comfort of your own home, in your own time to enable us all to take responsibility and develop our knowledge and understanding."

More information

More information on the course can be found at: www.modefor.co.uk/mac

During the recent Mental Health Awareness Week, Tabby launched her latest book 'The Three Taboos: Cancer, Grief and Mental Health' due for publication on 4th July 2020 and a new podcast of the same name, available on all listening platforms.

For more info go to: www.modefor.co.uk