CEC Head of Music Presents at Prestigious Mental Health Conference

Cowes Enterprise College’s Head of Music, Donna Brihmani, spoke at the Paediatric Mental Health Association’s annual conference.

The annual conference is an opportunity for professionals from a variety of sectors to meet, discuss and learn about new developments in the field of paediatric mental health. The 2023 conference focus is ‘Mental Health in Children and Young People: The Changing Landscape’.

Mrs Brihmani’s talk discussed music performance anxiety (MPA) and its impact on young people’s mental health and ability to perform optimally.

Performance is a requirement for all qualifications in music. In her role as Head of Music at the academy, which is sponsored by Ormiston Academies Trust (OAT), Mrs Brihmani has made it her priority to study to be able to help young people affected by music performance anxiety and how to begin to tackle it.

The conference was held over two days includes many presentations from leading practitioners, including a number of colleagues from other Isle of Wight organisations, with the focus of equality, diversity, inclusion and mental health.

Head of Music at Cowes Enterprise College, Donna Brihmani, said:

“I’m really excited to have been invited, and so looking forward to bringing new and current ideas and research in these areas to the academy!”

Principal at Cowes Enterprise College, Rachel Kitley, said:

“We are delighted that Donna was invited to talk at the Paediatric Mental Health Association’s annual conference. Wellbeing is so important to us at Cowes Enterprise College and we are incredibly pleased that Mrs Brihmani’s work on music performance anxiety is being recognised.”