Scottish Opera form partnership with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland

Scottish Opera has established a new partnership with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS), Scotland’s largest health charity, which supports individuals with chest, heart, and stroke conditions. This collaboration builds on Scottish Opera’s existing initiative, Breath Cycle, and focuses on improving the lives of those living with aphasia—a communication difficulty resulting from stroke-induced brain damage. Aphasia affects the brain’s language control area, potentially impairing speech or rendering patients unable to speak.

Research indicates that poor mental health and loneliness significantly impact individuals with aphasia. The partnership will provide online singing, songwriting, and breath-control sessions to enhance patients’ mental wellbeing and confidence.

Jane-Claire Judson, CEO of CHSS, commented: “Collaborating with Scottish Opera to unlock the therapeutic benefits of singing and songwriting for people with aphasia is a wonderful opportunity to address pressing issues faced by many across the country.” Jane Davidson MBE, Director of Outreach & Education at Scottish Opera, added: “Following the heightened awareness of our Breath Cycle II programme in 2020, designed for those with Long COVID and other respiratory conditions, Scottish Opera is thrilled to work with CHSS to support individuals with aphasia.”