Music group 'gave back tiny bit of my life'

Gaynor (left) says the group, formed by Lorna Farmer (right), has given her something to look forward to

Playing a saxophone again has given Gaynor "something to look forward to" after years of managing her schizophrenia.

Having peformed with bands across Bournemouth, she said she no longer wanted to play after being diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Gaynor is now part of an intiative, set up by occupational therapists, for people navigating mental health conditions to build confidence through music.

She is set to perform an original song with the band at Absolute Music Trust and she said she feels like she has "got a tiny part of my life back".

'Unmet need'

Dorset Healthcare Trust set up the initiative, signposting service users to join the music rehab sessions.

It has been running for more than a year now, with the goal of encouraging the band to eventually perform a song to an audience.

Occupational therapist Lorna Farmer said she first got the idea to set up the group after finding that a number of her patients in the outreach programme identified music as a "meaningful occupation".

She said: "There was nothing out there for them that they could engage with, we realised it was a real unmet need and decided to do something about it."

In 2023 Mrs Farmer and Jordan Pace partnered with Absolute Music, a venue in Bournemouth, to run two music groups on a weekly basis.

Gaynor says the band is a great bunch and they're preparing to perform an original song at Absolute Music Trust

One by one, Ms Farmer and her team spoke to service users about the group until they had enough people to try it out, like Gaynor.

The saxophonist from Southbourne said: "For a good 10 years I didn't play, unfortunately, I've got a psychotic illness and it's very difficult to manage.

"I do struggle a lot, but I find that it's really positive if I can play my music. It's something years ago, before my illness, I really used to love doing."

Gaynor said the group has given her something to look forward to after her schizophrenia diagnosis

Gaynor said joining the group had given her a "reconnection" to music and "a bit of hope for the future".

"It gets me out, gets me focused, gives me something to look forward to," she said. "Now I've picked it up again, I feel like I've got a little tiny part of my life back."

The band is now preparing to perform a selection of original songs at Absolute Music on 11 December.

Ms Farmer said: "It's massive for them because a lot of them, before the group, spent a lot of time at home, quite isolated, and didn't have the meaningful occupation that has motivated them to do something like this.

"All of them have grown in confidence in coming to the group and all of them work together as a supportive group. I'm really excited for them."