In LMN projects, our musicians call on their skills in recognising the musician in everybody. By encouraging people, with sensitivity, to participate as fully as they wish, they can help people nurture and celebrate their own creativity. This is profoundly valuable for people who have low self-esteem especially in the case of long term and collaborative projects, where input from LMN musicians and participants carries equal weight. Levels of anxiety and depression are reduced, as shown in Rosalia Staricoff's Study of the effects of visual & performing arts in healthcare conducted at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

LMN also works closely with NHS trusts and other healthcare providers to improve the healing environment for mental health patients. Mind's campaign - Building Solutions - found that 56% of patients rated the ward as unpleasant/very unpleasant and unstimulating/very unstimulating. Comments from patients included: There was absolutely nothing to do 90 per cent of the time. LMN projects in mental health care settings work to implement Mind's recommendations that
• Wards and their facilities need to be a more stimulating and pleasant environment
• There should be a range of activities on wards that are available to all.


The music touched and caused wonder to everyone present. Service User, Westminster Mental Health Services