
Birdsong New Music Foundation, was founded to commemorate the spirit and memory of musician David Martin and to help change the existing treatment options for people who live with mental illness. David’s love for song-writing and performance and his passion for music has inspired the growth of a new community of musicians who want to change your views about the mentally ill.
Founded by David’s mother — Margaret Konopacki — Birdsong is dedicated to helping others like David to find a way out of the negative aspects of life with mental illness by sharing their original music and story through professionally recording their original songs and live performance. If you let it - music can save your life!
Mental illness is real. Mental Illness is as real as cancer – it can kill you if untreated. The statistics are staggering and we all know someone who did not make it and the cause was mental health issues often in conjunction with drug use.
*(Canadian Mental Health Association)
It may be hard to accept, but that includes people all around you: your family members, your friends, your neighbours and your children.
Mental Illness is misunderstood, and often goes misdiagnosed for many years. People struggling with mental illness are often shamed, discriminated against, and do not share their situation for fear of being stigmatized and losing independence and often jobs and friends.
It is our hope through Birdsong, to continue the dialogue and to help save lives. In today’s world, better solutions already exist but they are not free. The lack of halfway houses, lack of treatment centres, lack of understanding and education, and the long waiting list to get into treatment should no longer be an option — this epidemic is happening in Canada and around the world — including our neighbours in the United States.
David Martin died Sept. 24, 2017, two blocks from Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Why? Because there was no space in a half-way house available after his two-month voluntary stay at a psychiatric hospital. David wanted help, but had to wait four months to be admitted into a psychiatric hospital. When he was released, there was nowhere for him to go but to his mother’s home. Feeling hopeless, David did not survive. David was not a victim, but a martyr of our system. This is how Birdsong was born. From the ashes we will rise with a message of hope through beautiful, unforgettable music.
Caged Bird's Song | Written & Performed by Jordan Gow
Jeffery's Truck | Written & Performed by Thomas Messenger