'My brass band helped save me after breakdown'

A man has detailed how setting up a brass band helped his recovery from a mental health breakdown.

Musician Chris Small said he had reached "absolute crisis" point and was unsure what his future held.

But Mr Small, from Hinckley in Leicestershire, said joining up with a group of fellow brass instrument players had helped him become his old self again.

The quartet was carolling in the Hinckley area in the run up to Christmas to raise money for the Mind mental health charity.

Mr Small, who studied music at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and plays a range of instruments including the euphonium and trombone, said: "Just over 12 months ago I had a mental breakdown and I was in absolute crisis.

"I reached out to Mind and asked them for some help and they pointed me in lots of different directions.

"If it wasn't for Mind I probably wouldn't be here now working on this project.

Mr Small, who has been playing music since he was eight, added: "What for me was a small lightbulb moment, to get some friends together to do some carolling, has become something absolutely amazing."

The quartet recorded a CD of Christmas music to raise money for Mind.

Mr Small added: "I can't describe how much music has meant to me and helped me get back on the road to being 100% Chris again.

"This whole project means a lot to me personally and it is an opportunity to put a bit of a stamp down and to say 'It's been really hard but now I'm back'.

He said his recovery was ongoing and that it had been a privilege to play with a group of great musicians and friends.

Mr Small added: "I hope we are putting a smile on people's faces."

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