Here comes the sun – Music therapy may be the cure for poor mental health

With over a million NHS mental health therapy referrals last year, Britain is in the market for alternative ways of treating depression and anxiety. Song writing and musical improvisation may be the answer

Mental health has become a popular topic of discussion. Awareness about depression, anxiety and panic attacks is on the rise as we become a more open society. However, according to the NHS, the number of drugs dispensed for these mental health problems has more than doubled in the last ten years. Some people spend as long as five months on an NHS waiting list to see a therapist. In Britain’s search of alternative ways to getting better, yoga and meditation are trendy, but perhaps the real cure for the winter blues is an undisturbed twenty minutes of singing in the shower. Music therapy is helping more and more people overcome both mental and physical health challenges, one do-re-mi at a time.

“Music therapy is not all singing and dancing, it’s a clinical and psychological intervention,” says Clare Maddocks, a newly qualified music therapist for British Association of Music Therapy. “There isn’t a setting where music therapy isn’t working in the world.” But how does music therapy work? Song writing is a commonly used technique. “Some people can really struggle to verbally express themselves. If you have that added difficulty of depression or anxiety, it can be really difficult to answer questions like ‘how are you feeling?’ and ‘how are you coping?’. Creating song lyrics to represent those dark moments is sometimes a bit easier. It’s also empowering to have your own song by the end of it.” But not all of us are natural singer/songwriters. This is when non-verbal improvisation comes in. “We’ll have an option of lots of different instruments in the room. The client will pick one up and just play. If a person is really mad, it’s about letting them release that anger. We might do a method called ‘containing’, where we play in a way that we try to hold everything that’s there and just keep it safe. It’s almost like saying ‘I’m here, and I’m supporting you, and I’m just gonna keep doing that with the music’. Like a musical conversation.”

Though culture plays a big role, Maddocks believes the reason people react so well to music is mostly down to physiology and instincts. “When we take part in a musical activity, lots of different parts of our brains light up. Compared to drawing or exercising, during which only certain areas of the brain are engaged, with music we perceive it, process it, listen to it and attach emotional meaning to it in many different parts of the brain. That’s why music is so powerful and universal.”

Music therapy seems to be working well for many, but you don’t have to be battling poor mental health to reap the benefits of music. Pop Choir was founded in 2008 by Helen Hampton, a professional singer, to give everyone an opportunity to sing radio hits in a formal setting.  “Regardless of what genre it is, music is something that connects with us all,” she says. She believes the magic of singing in a choir comes down to the feeling of doing an activity with other people. “You have a kind of camaraderie, you’re all in it together. People come along and it doesn’t matter how much they contribute. They may not be singing very loudly, but suddenly, they are collectively making this incredible sound, and that in itself releases endorphins. We took part in research for Goldsmiths University, measuring people’s resistance to the pain of a blood pressure cuff. People could tolerate it far tighter after the rehearsal.” With over 700 members across London, Pop Choir is living up to its name. Hampton has witnessed its soothing effects on her clients first hand. “I had a headmistress who said the day of our rehearsal was the only night a week she slept properly. Lots of people have said to me they’ve stopped self-harming or taking antidepressants since joining the choir.”

But singing isn’t just good for the soul. In a country where one in four adults are obese, standing up for an hour and a half to sing and do simple choreography can be an enjoyable form of exercise. “The government should be encouraging people to do music and fitness because it will help with the health and wellbeing of the nation,” says Hampton. Prescribing music instead of drugs could also be a lot cheaper. Charities across the country support aspiring musicians. Music for All gives grants to people to buy musical instruments or lessons. Paul McManus, the chief executive, believes the majority of the public would like to know how to play music. “Among adults, not learning or giving up on playing an instrument is one of the biggest regrets,” he says. He believes the effects of music go far beyond physiology. “It brings people together. It’s a very democratic socialiser. It doesn’t care for people’s background. People make music for music’s sake and get on as musicians accordingly.”

Historically, music has always been an important part of our society. Many tribes and religions use music to unite or celebrate. Hampton says that in today’s increasingly secular society, where “we’re caught up on gadgets”, choirs play a key role. “The church used to be the bedrock of a community. We don’t have that now. Choirs, where we’ve got people of all walks of life tied together in the same room as part of the same thing, sort of serve the same purpose.”

Many argue that lack of communication in our digital age is contributing to the mental health crisis. But technology allows us to listen to music anywhere we go, giving us a taster of music therapy in our day to day lives. Though it may not be a solution for all, a choir rehearsal once a week could bring more benefit to mental health than counting down the days to your NHS appointment.