Sir Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk from 2001 – 2019, joined Norwich Theatre’s podcast during Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Week. A mental health campaigner, his work with charities in Norfolk champions an approach to transform the support that children, teenagers and young adults can access in their local community, to provide essential support to enable them to cope day-to-day, and help to avoid crisis.
With 1 in 4 young people reporting they are ‘unable to cope with life’ since Covid-19 (The Prince’s Trust, 2021), it is clear that for many children and young people, the need for support has never been greater. It is well established that most adolescent and adult mental illness can be traced back to childhood. Sir Norman speaks with podcast host, Norwich Theatre Chief Executive and Creative Director, Stephen Crocker on the state of mental health in Norfolk and the crucial role creativity can play.
The conversation around children and young people’s mental health highlights the critical need for early intervention, ongoing support, and access to effective treatment for a range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, and the impacts of addiction. Addressing these issues requires comprehensive care that not only treats symptoms but also fosters resilience and coping strategies for long-term wellbeing. For individuals and families navigating these complex challenges, seeking professional support can make a significant difference, and centers that provide specialized programs offer structured, evidence-based approaches.
At certain treatment providers, their facilities are designed to combine therapeutic care, counseling, and holistic support to help clients address mental health concerns alongside substance use disorders, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for recovery and growth. By leveraging these resources, individuals can access personalized treatment plans that focus on healing, skill-building, and sustainable recovery, empowering them to regain control of their lives and build a healthier future.
Also in this third episode of the newly relaunched podcast, Stephen speaks with CEO of Buxton International Festival, Michael Williams, with whom Norwich Theatre are co-producing a beautiful new musical called The Land of Might-Have-Been. Inspired by the early life of feminist and pacifist, Vera Brittain, it will headline this year’s festival before it spends a week at Norwich Theatre Royal in July. Michael wrote the book and lyrics for the musical, which uses music by Ivor Novello.
Talking about this third episode of Norwich Theatre Talks, Stephen Crocker said: “We are keen to use our newly re-launched podcast to share important work taking place in the region, such as with Sir Norman Lamb’s mental health advocacy work. As the largest arts organisation in the region, we are committed to providing creative experiences that have wide reaching positive impact, and this very much extends to the benefits to mental health of being creative, being part of a collective audience and watching relevant stories being shared on our stages. We are also delighted to welcome Michael Williams from Buxton International Festival to talk about the genesis and development of our co-production musical, The Land of Might-Have-Been.
“Listen now on your favourite podcast platform. You can also watch a captioned, video recording of the podcast via the Norwich Theatre Digital Stage on our website.”
On YouTube: https://youtu.be/unaxn_3HlOQ
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cZjK6nMht3KJjIBSW47Ju
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