Educate. Inspire. Heal.

The Story

  • A woman with glasses and long hair smiling, sitting outdoors with a young boy in front of a brick wall. The woman is leaning forward, and the boy has a serious expression, sitting on the ground with a small dog between his legs.

    Roger Mehta, a trauma survivor, has transformed his personal struggles with mental illness and substance use disorder into a mission to support others facing similar challenges.

    Growing up in a home marked by poverty, domestic violence, and abuse, Roger lost both parents to alcoholism at a young age and, in 2009, his younger brother to the same illness.

    His own 16-year battle with addiction culminated in recovery in 1998, leading him to confront and heal from the underlying root cause, Complex PTSD (CPTSD).

  • A smiling bald man wearing a blue shirt against a dark background.

    While in recovery, Roger came to realise that his trauma was at the root of his substance misuse disorder and the condition was known as dual diagnosis.

    In 2009 he founded The Harmony Workshops, pioneering a music-based therapeutic approach to mental health and addiction recovery.

    As a fully accredited addiction counsellor and psychotherapist with the Association of Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists Ireland (APCP), he brings profound insight into educating and inspiring individuals to:

    Identify, recover and heal from trauma or mental health issues

    Recognise the risks and signs of substance use disorders

    Achieve recovery from dual diagnosis

Group of young people sitting on outdoor steps during sunset, smiling and embracing each other, at a social gathering or concert.

Since its inception, over 30,000 individuals across Ireland have experienced the transformative impact of The Harmony Workshops.

Key Initiatives and Collaborations

Mountjoy Prison, Dublin:

In partnership with Merchant Quay Ireland, the Harmony Workshops have been integral to the Treatment and Rehabilitation Programme (TARP) since 2014, featured in the TV3 documentary 'The Joy'.

Group of people, including teenagers and adults, standing and sitting on stairs outside a building with a Harm reduction sign in the background.

Youth Engagement:

Delivering psychoeducation and prevention workshops to post-primary schools and youth organizations, including Youthreach, Community Training Centres (CTC), Garda Youth Diversion Projects, and Foróige.

Large white multi-story building with multiple windows, surrounded by green trees and a grassy area, under a clear blue sky.

Residential Programmes:

Delivering workshops at Merchant Quay Ireland's High Park Residential Rehabilitation Programme in Drumcondra, Dublin; Aislinn Aiséirí in Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny; and The Matt Talbot Services in Enniskeane, Co. Cork.

Community Involvement:

Serving as a community drug and alcohol facilitator with The Mid Tipperary Drug Initiative (MTDI), collaborating with the HSE South Tipperary Substance Misuse Team, and providing inpatient support at St. Michael’s Psychiatric Hospital.

Group of seven people standing indoors in front of a wooden cabinet, smiling for the photo. The group includes six men and one woman, with a mix of casual and business attire.

Fethard & Killenaule ‘Joint Community Awareness Forum’ organised by ‪Coolmore Stud‬ Farm, Co. Tipperary: L to R: John Leahy (Alcohol Abuse); Roger Mehta (The Harmony Workshops); Alice Leahy (TRUST Foundation); Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin (Mental Health & Anxiety); Fran Curry (Tipp FM); Nicole Ryan (Drugs Awareness Campaigner, Alex’s Adventure); and Alan Quinlan (Mental Health and Sport).

Recognition and impact:

Keynote Speaker: Roger Mehta addressed the Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use in 2023, sharing insights from his personal and professional journey.

Media Features: The workshops have been highlighted in various media outlets, showcasing their unique approach to addiction education and prevention.

Social change:

Over the course of forty years, Roger has worked as a DJ, radio broadcaster, musician, and singer-songwriter in Ireland and the UK.

In 2022, he released a single in aid of the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

He is an educator, advocate and therapist for victims of domestic violence.

The Harmony Workshops stand as a testament to the power of resilience and innovation in addressing mental health and substance addiction.

Through music and personal connection, The Harmony Workshops continue to inspire and heal communities across Ireland.