Sing Your Heart Out: The Healing Practice of Choral Singing
We all have been known to engage in the occasional simple pleasure of singing in the shower, perhaps to the detriment of roommates and neighbors. Singing can be soul-cleansing in many ways, as one lets go of all inhibition for the sake of carrying on the soprano and sage gospels of Beyoncé Knowles. But could there be something more to this phenomenon? Could belting out those good notes have any positive effects on your mental health and well-being?
According to a study conducted in Norfolk, UK, that’s exactly the case. The Sing Your Heart Out Initiative (SYHO) is a community-based organization that initially began at the Hellesdon Hospital, a local psychiatric hospital. SYHO is comprised of various group-singing workshops targeted at the community to optimize their mental health welfare. This is accomplished through imparting an inclusive and supportive environment that allows social amity and unity, especially for those with mental health diagnoses, although workshops are open for the general public.
The authors assessing this initiative also had many insights and qualitative findings of the overall effectiveness of SYHO and how its methods and approaches worked to better mental wellbeing over this six-month study. The evaluation took place between the months of July to December in 2015, and the results of 20 participants, who were divided into two focus groups (many who have been diagnosed with unique mental health issues).
Many studies conducted have proven the beneficial impacts of singing as it has been noted to improve social and emotional wellbeing, help manage stress, as well as boost overall quality of life in the case of many veterans, those who have chronic illnesses, as well as people with a wide spectrum of mental health issues. For this study, the effect of choral singing was specifically taken into research consideration. The authors of this study utilized mixed research methods. Information was drawn from desk reviews, as well as from interviewing participants and program leaders and observing participants in workshops. Overall quality of life was also assessed both prior to and after participants attended one term of SYHO, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment being used as reference.
What is the general consensus of SYHO and its effectiveness? Based on the accounts of those interviewed, what researchers found was that the effects of choral singing are incredibly positive and even life-changing for numerous participants, with the additional advantage of being an inexpensive enterprise. Generally regarded as a low-stress, low-commitment, and inclusive space, the workshops were found to be excellent agents in leading to self-efficacy and overall confidence. Many participants would even uptake a skill that they had abandoned prior to joining SYHO but then regained a newfound passion for once acquiring confidence in their singing abilities.
Workshops were stated to be most engaging through its widely diverse array of simple comprehensible songs, many finding the experience enjoyable and others stressing its essential therapeutic benefits in recovery. Workshops were also found to allow physical recovery and rehabilitation, as one person with asthma claimed her attacks became less severe, while a person recovering from a past brain tumour claimed singing helped regain his speech literacy.
SYHO also stresses non-judgement in one’s singing skills – or lack thereof - as many SYHO goers claim to have no formal vocal training; nonetheless, feeling very welcome and harmonious amongst fellow choir singers. Furthermore, workshop coaches and singing volunteers were also proficient and formerly trained in mental health literacy as first aid in mental health is currently available. The workshops, with the addition of a scheduled tea-time, allowed much time for attendees to socialize with one another, thereby increasing their social capital which can lead to paths of self-actualization. However, those who are not comfortable enough to engage in conversation are free to just bask in the pleasure of a good cuppa and a biscuit.
Overall, many find this initiative to be empowering and vital to providing avenues of increasing social connectedness and esteem in one’s capabilities, as well as providing many physical benefits simply through learning to control one’s breathing. SYHO is highly valued by this Norfolk community and with sufficient reasoning, as many view the simple, but enjoyable activity as being imperative to providing mental calmness and happiness.
Singing is an excellent outlet for self-expression, entertainment, and confidence-building and singing in numbers is vital to community building and social networking. It just goes to show how simple pleasures in the form of an old recreational pastime can truly improve one’s standard of living, as well as simply brightening someone’s day.
Source:
Shakespeare T., & Whieldon A. (2018) Sing Your Heart Out: community singing as part of mental health recovery. Medical Humanities, 44 (3), 153-157.
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