Headspace goes hip hop

The headspace team at Anglicare NT has released a video called ‘Got a lot going on’ as part of its Yarn Safe campaign, which aims to educate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people about mental health.

The hip hop video was written and performed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, working with Indigenous Hip Hop Projects and headspace. It speaks about the broad range of issues they face, such as racism, drugs and isolation, conveying the message that there is ‘no shame in talking’.
The video was created over nine days in late 2014, with music and dance workshops held with young people in Rockhole, Katherine, Beswick and Belyuen. Starting with just a beat, young people worked with IHHP and headspace to write song lyrics, learn hip hop dance moves and film the music video.

Dion Brownfield, Indigenous Hip Hop Projects, said nothing is more powerful than a resource made for young people, by young people.

“It’s in their language, it’s talking firsthand about their experience and it’s about them expressing themselves. The sense of connection to the final product is so strong.”

“Communities will be able to relate and connect to the powerful messages in the lyrics. Indigenous young people do have many challenges living in community and they do have a lot going on, this music video is a testament to the power of culture, music and dance for change,” he added.

headspace CEO Chris Tanti said the video brings the messages of the recently launched Yarn Safe campaign to life.

“The young people really embraced the process of using song and dance to express their feelings and emotions. They weren’t afraid to talk about what’s going on for them even though they were touching on some really sensitive issues.”

Headspace, run by Anglicare NT in the Northern Territory, helps 12-25 year olds with mental health and wellbeing issues, by phone, online and at headspace centres.

Headspace and Anglicare NT acknowledge the wise people of the White Cockatoo Mob as custodians and traditional owners of the “Mimi” cultural song and dance as performed in the video.