A doctor by day and rockstar by night – front-man and physician, Dr. Jarrett Lobley fuses the pop, rock, and alternative genres with his band The Jarrett Lobley Project to create a tangible link of humanity and honesty to their audiences.
We’re excited to have The Jarrett Lobley Project as one of our esteemed guests of the Winnipeg March for Mental Health on May 6th, 2017! Learn more about The Jarrett Lobley Project and their connection to the mental health community.
Please tell us a bit about yourself. What would you want people to know?
In brief, I used music as my release after challenging hospital days as a resident. I began to incorporate the concepts of common things I noticed that we all concern ourselves with but seldom talk about into my lyrics.
The Jarrett Lobley Project combines resonating lyrics with original music, explicit in our 2015 debut album “Better Days”. Our animated sets have quickly led us to become a captivating live act . In our first year, opening for Loverboy, performing at Canadian Music Week, the Fringe Fest, and the Pride Festival on the Scotiabank Stage, we’ve shaped a vibrant momentum for our upcoming 2017 album release.
What is your connection to mental health?
My main connection to Mental Health is in working with thousands of patients struggling with mental health concerns in many different countries. Before my medical career, I also spent countless hours counselling and supporting friends and family who also suffered with something similar. I worked primarily as a doctor with the underserved throughout Manitoba, from Northern Remote Communities to Winnipeg Urban Core. Sharing one’s story and feeling listened-to, validated and supported, in many cases, is such a key element to one’s health. My goal was not only to be a medical doctor but to also help my patients get back on their feet, better understand themselves and their surroundings, connect them to ancillary services so that they could better live the life they wanted.
I have been volunteering regularly since I was about 14 years old, from Special Needs children to Veterans, and wandered around the world for many years. These, among many other experiences, have helped shape my cultural and psychological understanding.
I also sit and have sat on the many active Board of Directors/Governors (from Professional to Community youth-at-risk centres) in effort to help encourage the discussion about Mental Health and other concerns. The more suffering I saw, the more songs I wrote!
Why do you think something like the Winnipeg March for Mental Health has value?
Now, this question I can go on for pages! The Winnipeg March for Mental Health, I believe, is a cornerstone to bringing this important medical and social issues to light. In brief, many people suffer silently with Mental Health issues, everyone from professionals to those without homes, and everyone else! None of us are exempt of potentially being affected and most people have a friend or a relative who has or is suffering with something similar. I believe that awareness (and education) and social support (initial contact and ongoing maintenance) along with appropriate and monitored professional medical care are the most important aspects of our directed efforts in Mental Health. Often times, Mental Health issues are multifactorial and effect many aspects of many individual’s lives (including those around us) but patients still so often feel compelled to keep their silent struggle quiet for many different reasons and suffer in silence. Mental Health issues are clearly extremely common in our society and I hope to continue to be a part of contributing to Mental Health Services as a whole where ever I can.
The Jarrett Lobley Project is one of our many amazing acts of the Winnipeg March for Mental Health. Catch The Jarrett Lobley Project on May 6, 2017 at St. Vital Park from 1pm-4pm.
