« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
Well Issue 3: Autumn/Winter 2003/04
Radiohead Speak Out
Everyone needs to talk: it's a notion that everyone can relate to. It's also the main theme behind an unlikely collaboration between MTV, the Mind Out for Mental Health "Read the Signs" campaign, the Samaritans and Phil Selway (far right in picture), the drummer with the Grammy award-winning rock band, Radiohead.
Selway has been a Samaritan for 17 years and still works hard for the organisation which offers 24-hour confidential emotional support to anyone in distress. He is also the driving force behind "Need to Talk", an initiative aimed at demystifying mental health and encouraging young people to talk about their emotional problems.
Earlier this year, young British filmmakers were invited to submit films of up to 60 seconds duration featuring their own interpretations and responses to the "Need to Talk" message, set to an exclusive Radiohead soundtrack entitled "Meeting in the Aisle".
An impressive 57 entries were received, the best of which have been shown on MTV over the past few months, scattered amongst the channel's normal programming schedule. The competition was aimed at raising awareness of mental health problems among the vulnerable MTV 18-34 year old audience, while providing a platform for young people
to express their own thoughts and reactions to the emotional problems prevalent to their peers.
"Everyone can relate to the idea that sometimes, everyone needs to talk," says, Sarah Nelson, PR manager for The Samaritans. "But in today's society, all too often it doesn't happen. The competition underlined that no matter how difficult feelings are to express, the best thing people can do is to talk about them, rather than bottling them up. We believe that through collaborations such as this project with MTV, we can challenge the stigma associated with opening up and talking about emotions."
The Samaritans rely upon almost 20,000 trained volunteers like Phil Selway, a happily- married father of two, to staff help-lines and drop-in centres throughout the UK. Some might say that his devotion to The Samaritans sits incongruously alongside his day job as a drummer with one of the world's most successful rock bands. The research, however, speaks for itself.
A survey carried out by Mindout's "Read the Signs" campaign, revealed that 86% of 15-21 year olds know someone who has experienced emotional problems, with 49% knowing someone who has self-harmed. 25% of young people polled were worried about the emotional health of another young person, whilst 96% felt that more information about mental health should be available to young people.
The survey also revealed that a staggering 35% know someone who has attempted suicide, just the sort of uncomfortable issue that Radiohead likes to address. As Selway says: "When the biggest killer of young men in the UK is themselves, anything the band can do to draw attention to the issue of emotional health is worthwhile."
The winning films were showcased at the Rethink (formerly the national Schizophrenia Fellowship) Film Festival in June this year.
Radiohead are appearing in Scotland on the following dates:
* Sunday 30 November,
2003 - Glasgow SECC
* Monday 1 December,
2003 - Aberdeen Exhibition Centre
The Samaritans24-hour helpline is 08457 90 90 90
www.samaritans.org
www.readthesigns.org
www.mindout.net
www.mtv.co.uk
« Previous | Contents | Next »