The times they are a-changin’… and thank goodness for that. Not too very long ago, many groups of people lived outside the mainstream of society, whether by choice or not. Today, people cheer on paralympic athletes while organizations such as the United States Blind Golf Association are thriving with new members.

Thankfully, the trend has extended into the arts. Ronald Braunstein is a brilliant example. As a child and then a teenager, Braunstein developed his musical abilities, learning to play the piano and violin, composing music and graduating from the North Carolina School of the Arts. After graduating from Julliard School of Music, he studied music in Europe and then developed an international career as a conductor.

Braunstein’s seemingly charmed life, though, wasn’t all that it appeared to be. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1985, and the next decades were filled with the predictable often-trying ups and downs associated with the disease.

But that’s not the end of the story. Natalie Stone, writing for NiceNews.com, describes how Braunstein eventually decided to continue pursuing his passion for music while confronting his struggle with bipolar disorder. “Alongside his wife Caroline Whiddon,” Stone writes, “Braunstein created the Me2/ Orchestra in 2011 in Burlington, Vermont, its mission being ‘to erase the stigma surrounding mental illness (including addiction) through supportive classical music rehearsals and inspiring performances.’ ”

People with a variety of mental conditions have been drawn to the orchestra, and today it is a vibrant community of 160 musicians who perform at venues ranging from Elley-Long Music Center at Saint Michael’s College to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

For audiences, the Me2/ Orchestra offers a bonus following performances: “Attendees are invited to participate during a Q&A portion with the musicians,” Stone writes, “during which the audience can ask candid questions.”

The Q&A session is a touching and welcome reminder that the times have indeed changed, with the Me2/ Orchestra being only one of many organizations that are helping the general public realize that there is not — nor should there be — any stigma surrounding a person with a mental health condition.