Educate. Inspire. Heal.

The Story

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).
During his recovery, Roger returned to education to better understand the deeper causes of addiction, trauma, and mental health difficulties. Through his studies and personal journey, he came to realise that poor mental health conditions and unresolved trauma often sit at the core of substance misuse and addiction.
He also discovered that many individuals and families living with both mental health difficulties and addiction are experiencing a condition known as dual diagnosis — the coexistence of mental illness and substance use disorder.
Roger was deeply impacted by how little awareness or understanding existed around dual diagnosis, and by the shame and stigma many people continue to experience instead of seeking support. This shame and stigma is what contributed to his mother, father, and younger brother deaths.
In response , Roger founded The Harmony Workshops in 2009, developing an innovative music-based programme that helps young people and adults explore mental health, trauma, emotional wellbeing, and substance misuse in a safe, relatable, and engaging way.
Now a fully accredited addiction counsellor and psychotherapist with the Association of Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists Ireland (APCP), Roger combines professional training with lived experience to help individuals:
- recognise and understand the signs of poor mental health and trauma
- identify the risks associated with substance misuse and addiction
- reduce shame and stigma around dual diagnosis
- develop healthier coping strategies and emotional resilience
- seek support, recovery, and healing

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.