Headtrip
Headtrip aims to explore how an 'immersive audio piece’, co-created with people with lived experience, frontline workers, academic experts and artists, might help communicate the experience of mental health conditions in engaging new ways; changing attitudes and behaviours, building empathy and reducing stigma
Headtrip researched whether immersive binaural audio experiences could be beneficial in changing attitudes and behaviours, building empathy and reducing the stigma that surrounds depression.
Without ever experiencing a mental health condition, like depression, it can be difficult to understand what the sufferer goes through, it can also be difficult for someone to explain their experience in words.
The Headtrip team attempted to bridge this gap, by creating a 10-minute audio experience, co-created with nine people who have ‘lived experience’ of depression.
After creating the audio-experience, the team tested it on 23 listeners, including experts by experience, front line workers, academics, mental health professionals and people working in the creative and cultural sector.
The team are continuing their research and therefore temporarily sharing the audio created for this pilot.
Before you listen, it is recommended that you use a decent pair of headphones and find a quiet space. Ideally wear an eye mask or close your eyes to minimise distraction.
The Headtrip audio is based on lived experiences of depression and might be emotionally intense. In the explicit version there is some strong language. We do not recommend anyone under the age of 16 listen to the audio or anyone feeling emotionally unstable.
Headtrip Explicit version
Headtrip Clean version
Project events
Headtrip listening session, Monday 11 December 2017, Bush House
A selected audience was invited to participate in a listening session of the 10 minute audio piece developed as a result of the project
Feedback from the listening event included:
- ‘Thank you for starting a revolution’
- ‘I was becalmed. All my frustrations and anxieties left me. Insight was gained, depression relieved’
- ‘The back-story of collaboration is equally compelling as the final output. Keep Going!’
- ‘It’s made me want to have a conversation with my boyfriend [who has depression] – and realised that social relations are central to all this’
- ‘It was surprisingly accurate. I felt it was very familiar and it left me feeling a bit sad’.
- ‘I felt like I have just been on a journey but I don’t feel drained or down by it. I also had an interesting ASMR – type sensations / reactions – a tingling across my forehead’.
- ‘Curious as to the degree to which this is how some people experience the world. I have had low moments, and been disappointed with myself – but was very aware of this person’s extreme self-loathing’.
Project team
Rebecca Hatchett is the Director of S.I.D.E Projects is leading the consortium through the research phase as well as inputting to the creative development of the final audio. Providing 15-years experience in creative project management and service design, working in the arts, education and cultural sectors.
Professor Ricardo Araya is a King's College London Professor of Global Mental Health. His research interests include the aetiology of common mental disorders, inequalities and their link to the mental health of populations with special emphasis on international comparisons, and effective treatments for common mental disorders, such as simple and brief interventions using non-medical workers and strong community participation.
Lucia Scazzocchio is an audio and creative producer specialised in what she calls ‘Social Broadcasting’ using the power of audio to retell and reimagine personal stories and social conversations for a fresh transmission of contemporary narratives.
Ella Saltmarshe specializes in using creativity to produce social impact at scale. She is the co-founder of The Point People, The Comms Lab & #SHEvotes. In this project she is combining her experience as a script-writer and her experience of service design in the field of mental health.
Patrick Hatchett is an established composer, sound designer, live musician, re-mixer and producer for audio, film and T.V with a degree in composition and ethnomusicology. In this project he will use a variety of audio techniques and work with the team to master a vivid ‘audio picture’.
Headtrip is a collaboration between King’s College London’s Department of Health Service & Population Research and S.I.D.E Projects. It was supported by the university's Culture team.