MARK FLEMING

creative writing for mental health. music for wellbeing.

Mental heal writer, Mark Fleming, Christmas Day 1966

Mental health writer, Mark Fleming, guitarist in Scottish alt rock band Little Big Dig, 1985

"Music is a herald, for change is inscribed in noise faster than it transforms society." Jacques Attali, French social theorist/writer

Fiction, essays, memoirs ... welcome to Heids Up

Mark Fleming was diagnosed bipolar in his 20s, spending time in psychiatric hospital after being sectioned. This period in his life is the subject of his memoir, 1976 - Growing Up Bipolar. In 2018, after attending sessions of The Changing Room, a mental health support group run by Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), he met a kindred spirit, Neil Renton. Neil had struggled with his own issues, undergoing debilitating spells of depression. At his lowest point, Neil considered taking his life. Overcoming these episodes gave him the courage to volunteer as a SAMH mental health mentor, and also collaborate with NHS in producing a powerful short film (see link below).

Discovering a shared interest in creative writing and music, Neil and Mark decided to collaborate on a book. Heids Up is an anthology of flash fiction, longer short stories, essays about music appreciation, and mental health memoirs. It is available as an ebook now, while the paperback version goes live on December 18th 2024, published by Edinburgh mental health publishers, Tartan Moon.

Cover of Heids Up, an anthology of short fiction, essays, and memoirs about their mental health experiences by Mark Fleming and Neil Renton; published by Tartan Moon

Neil Renton

Neil is from Leith. In the 2010s, a spell of depression brought him close to taking his life. (NOTE: Suicide was the leading cause of death for males aged 35 to 49, and for both males and females aged 20 to 34 years in the UK, for all years observed. Males had over three times the number of deaths from suicide compared with females for each year observed in this age group. Source: Office of National Statistics).

In a bid to de-stigmatize this emotive topic, Neil has opened up about that period in his life; so importantly, having reached rock bottom, he has also highlighted the steps he was able to take to the resolve the situation. Discovering The Changing Room, a mental health support group aimed at 'men in their middle years,' and pioneered at Hibernian FC in Edinburgh, has played a crucial part in his ongoing wellbeing.

Neil's forthright film produced by NHS 24

Mark Fleming is from Edinburgh. In his 20s he was sectioned under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984, spending time in an Intensive Care Unit, and being placed on long-term anti-psychotic meds (lithium) for the next 30 years. Creative writing and music have played a vital role in his continued wellbeing. Through the Scottish Book Trust he has run writing workshops in schools and community settings, including groups for people with mental health issues, recovering addicts, and homeless individuals. He has also spoken about his life's journey in HMP Barlinnie and Saughton, being interviewed by prisoners in the former for their in-house radio station, Barbed Wireless. In September 2024, Bipolar Edinburgh invited him to run creative writing workshops for their service users.

Fleming's website is dedicated to promoting positivity through writing, storytelling, and musical appreciation. Blogs and articles cover diverse issues related to mental health, as well as wider issues in society and popular culture.

Mark reading from his memoir, 1976 - Growing Up Bipolar, at the 2022 Portobello Book Festival.

The Changing Room, inaugural alumni event, Hampden Stadium, 25/10/22

Scottish Action for Mental Health

Back in October 2022 I joined a 12-week programme entitled The Changing Room at Hibernian FC's Easter Road Stadium, organised by Scottish Action for Mental Health. These initiatives were pioneered at Hibs in April 2018, when Neil Lennon was manager, himself a huge advocate for mental health awareness, before being introduced at Heart of Midlothian FC the following October. Prince William, another strong spokesman for mental health awareness, was invited to a session at Tynecastle Stadium. After the resounding success of these inaugural programmes, SAMH rolled out The Changing Room to over 20 senior Scottish football clubs, providing fans of any club (or none in particular) with a safe and welcoming environment where they can feel encouraged to share a wide range of mental health experiences. Alumni events have been held at Hampden Stadium annually since October 2022, where numerous participants of The Changing Room gather to hear inspirational speakers and share personal stories.

Neil Lennon, manager when SAMH pioneered The Changing Room at Hibernian FC.. Copyright: The Independent

Prince William, invited to Heart of Midlothian as part of his mental health advocacy. Copyright. standard.co.uk

Music + exercise = wellbeing

Everyone's mental outlook was impacted by the COVID-19 crisis a few years back. Ever since lockdown I've been enjoying long walks, relishing Scotland's beautiful landscapes against a backdrop of uplifting playlists in my headphones. I write regular blogs about the revitalising impact of nature and music, and you can check them out at @markfleming_embra.