SANE UK: Blue Mood Month

As part of its 25th anniversary, SANE UK has launched it's Black Dog Campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues during its Year of the Black Dog. To kick it off they announced Blue Mood Month where celebrities such as Stephen Fry were asked to contribute playlists 'of their favourite sad songs that make you happy'.

Sounds like a bit of a contradiction, sad songs making you happy, but I understand what they mean, at least to me anyway. When I get depressed I attach a lot of emotion to music and a good sad song can get me crying. But this is a release of emotional tension & stress for me and the end result is I can feel better after letting it out. And many songs can make you feel you're not alone, there are others out there who feel like you do - it's not the end of the world, it can get better.

Now, I am far from a celebrity so I will never be asked to contribute a list & can't access Spotify to add my list to their public ones. So I'll list mine here, with links to YouTube. So these are my 'sad songs that make me happy' in no particular order:

You'll Never Walk Alone - Jerry & The Pacemakers
Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.

Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor

I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues - Elton John

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - George Michael & Elton John

Travelling Soldier - Dixie Chicks

Gravity - John Meyer

Never Gonna Be Alone - Nickelback

Key Largo - Bertie Higgins

True Colours - Cyndi Lauper

He Ain't Heavy - The Hollies

Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley

Lullaby - Nickelback

Every Rose Has A Thorn - Poison

Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

Yesterday - The Beatles

Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
The Living Years - Mike & The Mechanics

That will do for now - could list many more. Next time maybe I'll just do a list of 'good time songs' that can lift my emotions.

So what are your 'sad songs that make you happy'?


Cheers

The information contained in this blog can not be considered medical advice. These are only my own thoughts, feelings & ideas. If you or someone you know are having problems with mental illness please seek qualified medical advice.

Side Trip - Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry is a British actor & comedian whose work I have enjoyed over a number of years. When the ABC here in Australia ran a two-part documentary called 'Steven Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive' I had no idea what to expect. What I got was an insight into the effects of bi-polar disorder on the sufferer & those around them.

Synopsis:

Manic depression is a disease that's little talked about and little understood. This programme, presented by Stephen Fry, explores the highs and the lows, and the causes and the treatments of a condition that may affect as many as 2% of the population. Motivated by his own personal battle, the programme follows Stephen Fry on an emotional but entertaining journey that takes him into the homes of stars such as Carrie Fisher, Richard Dreyfuss and Rick Stein; into the lives of ordinary people who juggle this illness with their working lives; and into the surgeries of psychiatrists and the labs of researchers who are trying to help control the condition. In candid interviews, we hear tales of mood swings and extremes of behaviour that can leave a sufferer living like Jekyll and Hyde; with reckless aggression, crazy sex, wild decisions and criminal impulses all thrown in. And we hear about the lows that make you wonder how they survive.

I highly recommend this documentary to anyone who wants to learn more about bi-polar, its effects & treatments. Stephens website (http://www.stephenfry.com) is an interesting place to visit and you will find a forum dedicated to this documentary & mental heath issues in general.

Cheers