Original version

No Master Brand

BBC Afghan Radio

Health Check

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Health Check: A musician’s story of coping with schizophrenia

Magazines & Reviews

Hay.jpg

2023/10/25 GMT

A musician’s story of coping with schizophrenia

BBC World Service - Health Check, A musician’s story of coping with schizophrenia

How a mother is supporting her son to perform again after he developed psychosis.

Claudia Hammond has an in-depth conversation with a musician who was diagnosed with schizophrenia ten years ago, and his mother, who’s helping him to make music once again.

Talented guitarist, Hamish Barclay, was given steroids when he was a teenager to treat a kidney problem. He then experienced the rare side effect of psychosis and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia. He has lived the condition for the past ten years.

Now 29, he’s being supported by his mother Josephine to return to making music once again.

Claudia Hammond sits down with Josephine, Hamish and his sister Maudie for a conversation about life with schizophrenia – and the stigma around the word.

The family talk about how they sometimes avoid using the term because they know it can put people off playing music with Hamish and Maudie describes how her mum ensures Hamish can continue to play by driving him to London and sitting in classes with him.

We also hear some of Hamish’s compositions, as he tells us about the voices – or auditory hallucinations – that affect his songwriting. And hear how important returning to music has been for his wellbeing and mental health.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Dan Welsh

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Health Check

A musician’s story of coping with schizophrenia

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Afghan Radio