Losing It

Programme aims

Losing It is a drama developed from the raw material of personal experience. It was created over a six-month period of practical research with young people in and out of schools. Some of these young people had first-hand experience of mental health problems and the mental health services. Others had not but could relate a range of experiences that had caused emotional pressure for themselves and their friends.

After talking to teachers, youth workers, counsellors, psychotherapists and other professionals in the mental health field, three characters and a storyline were gradually developed, which hopefully will have resonance for a range of young people in different circumstances.

The first aims of a drama are clearly to engage, involve and move the audience. We hope this drama fulfils these primary aims and goes further. We would like Losing It to help young people and those who live and work with them to:

• talk more openly about their feelings and emotions.
• understand what mental health is and distinguish between different kinds of mental health problems and mental illness.
• identify the factors that can affect mental health.
• overcome the fear and stigma associated with mental health problems and mental illness.
• recognise the kinds of support and interventions that might help.

Cracked is a Theatre-in-Education show about teenage depression produced by the Y Touring Company. It has toured successfully for several years and is accompanied by a comprehensive mental-health education resource for secondary schools, available from Y Touring. Cracked is going on tour again in spring 2001. For information about the production, venues and dates, go to the Y Touring website: www.ytouring.org.uk/cracked.html

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