(guitar strumming) ♪ Whenever the clouds roll away ♪ - [Shannon] Music is a way to connect with people.

♪ And the sun begins to shine - [Eric] There are people with gifts and talents and struggles like all of us have.

♪ I see my freedom from across the way ♪ - They're some of the most eager students I've ever seen and ever worked with, which really makes it enjoyable.

- I needed help.

My mom got me to come here, and it's helped me that they've had a lot of activities so I get out more, you know, talking with people, socializing.

- Kadima serves people who are struggling with typically chronic and persistent mental health challenges who need support to be able to live independently in the community.

Kadima's Creative Expressions program was started to provide the people we serve with opportunities to experience the arts and then to have that integrated with their formal treatment goals.

Studies go back years showing the benefit of participating in arts programming for people with mental health challenges.

We were introduced to a number of arts organizations, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, that come and work with people we serve.

- Music is important for therapy because it helps people get in touch with their emotions.

♪ When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high ♪ - [Shannon] We need to really feel in our lives in order to get better, and music just kind of helps that come out in a really honest way.

- Members of the DSO, they come to us and we interact, we play music together.

(clarinets playing) ♪ And it seems like - I sing songs, and I enjoy doing that.

♪ 'Cause it seems like, seems like ♪ - Many people with mental health challenges are exceedingly creative, and so we have a number of very talented singers and flautists and violin players and trombonists and clarinetists and piano players and more.

(trombone playing) - Well, for Joel, he plays trombone.

His dad was first chair in the DSO.

It's a great thing for him to be able to do.

He plays trombone and he plays keyboards.

For me, it's great to have a place to come sing.

♪ You're the meanest old woman that I ever seen ♪ - [Michael] We've been singing Hit the Road Jack, Ray Charles, and it's just a lot of fun.

♪ Hit the road Jack, and don't you come back no more ♪ ♪ What'd you say - Remember the two fingers on the right hand.

- [Eric] The DSO musicians spend time working on pieces that our clients are interested in working on and learning more about.

- You listen (drums tapping) and play.

(drums tapping) Listen, (drums tapping) play.

(drums tapping) - And then for some of our other folks who don't have a history of playing instruments, there was a music therapist who worked with them on some other skills that were integrated into their treatment plans.

And the music therapy piece isn't to be discounted.

For some of the people we serve, just engaging with a group in a group activity and learning some basic music skills or some more advanced music skills is a great way for them to be engaged in the project as well.

So many of the people that we serve have been discounted through their whole lives.

People don't believe in them or see the potential that they have, and what's been so wonderful about the musicians who are with us is they really see the potential there.

- They're just smiling the whole time when they're engaged, and they're doing something they really love to do, they're experiencing something new, and we try to plan the session so that everyone can be involved.

- When we're doing a song, they have me lead sometimes, like last time.

We had a lot of fun on Hit The Road, Jack.

♪ And don't you come back no more ♪ ♪ What'd you say - [Eric] In addition to us being able to spend some time with their friends and do something different, they're able to build some skills and build some confidence.

Often when we build and gain confidence in anything that we're doing, any of us, that translates to other areas of our lives.

- It's improved my confidence.

I've performed in front of a group.

It improves my confidence at karaoke, too.

♪ And it give so much love and it comes from the sky above ♪ - [Eric] We culminate this experience with a recital, with a performance, an opportunity for the people we serve to show to their friends and family what they've learned and what they've built.

(piano playing) We're doing the concert at the home of Janet Aronoff, who was one of Kadima's founders, and somebody who supported this project over the years I think the people who come to the concert are gonna get a wonderful musical experience, and it's an opportunity for everybody to see the people we serve as just that, as people.

- [Shannon] The participants here at Kadima have become much more confident with playing in front of other people.

- At first I was like, I had my eyes practically closed, but I was looking down at the lyrics, but then when I connected with the audience, I felt that was the best thing.

♪ Brand new day ♪ Brand new day - [Eric] I think one of the exciting things about this program is it's an opportunity for everybody to learn.

I think that the musicians are gaining a broader understanding of the world of mental illness.

- [Shannon] The people here at Kadima are just such interesting people and interesting to talk to and all have good hearts and are willing to learn.

- With a little luck, these sorts of programs can help reduce stigma and provide more opportunities for people to talk about mental health challenges and seek care.

We're thrilled these days more people are talking about mental health, are seeking out the care they need and getting the care they need, and it's imperative that we help people build up skills so they can live a rich and productive and meaningful life.

- Anybody interested in getting involved with Kadima who has some issues, come on out, get involved.

You'll thank yourself.

(guitar strumming) - Thank you, everyone.

(group applauding)