Interactive Music Sessions Aid Mental Health Recovery

Patients, staff, and families of the mental health campus at Stobhill Hospital in north Glasgow will soon benefit from hands-on 'Music Jams' thanks to the efforts of Music in Hospitals & Care.

These fun, interactive sessions will offer an opportunity for self-expression and social interaction, building confidence and supporting patients’ mental health recovery.

Music in Hospitals & Care (MIHC) is a charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of children and adults through the healing power of live music. Every year, their professional musicians share live music with people across the UK who may not otherwise get to experience it. This includes individuals living with dementia, mental health problems, and other serious illnesses.

The charity believes that live music should be part of everyone’s health and social care regimen. Research has shown that music can soothe and relieve stress, isolation, frustration, and even reduce the perception of pain.

The Music Jam sessions at Stobhill Hospital are designed to provide an emotional and creative outlet for people with mental health problems. Participants have reported that jam sessions help to restore a sense of identity and remind people of their passions and interests beyond their illness.

There is never an expectation for people to just sit and listen; instead, the charity’s musicians actively encourage engagement with the live music in whatever way feels natural.

The impact of this work has been phenomenal, with participants experiencing significant improvements in confidence and social interaction. One patient from the Orchard Clinic, a medium secure forensic unit, regularly attended Music Jams sessions at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and eventually asked if he could join in with the musicians.

Staff knew he was an accomplished singer and guitarist but also knew the man to be quite anxious and lacking in confidence. MIHC musician Charlie Gorman gently supported the patient as they shared live music together and he returned each week, gradually starting to sing and play guitar by himself.

After realising how much his confidence had grown, staff invited the patient to perform at Hivefest, a small festival held in the hospital grounds, where he successfully performed by himself to an audience of 150 staff, patients, and members of the public.

To support these Music Jam sessions at Stobhill Hospital, the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust has donated £1,000. This funding will help the charity expand and develop their programme, which has already seen success at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

Kirstyn Knowles, Live Music Manager Scotland and North of England for Music in Hospitals & Care, said:

“These funds will allow Music in Hospitals & Care to bring participatory Music Jams to patients, staff, and families on the mental health campus at Stobhill Hospital. By encouraging participation and interaction, the live music experiences provide an opportunity for self-expression, social interaction and confidence building to support mental health recovery. Importantly, they also give patients a chance to have fun away from the clinical environment of the wards.”

David Facenna, Corporate Culture Director at Allied Vehicles Group, added:

“The power of music as a force for recovery has been long-established, and the work of Music in Hospitals & Care has put that to tremendous use. We’re delighted to help this excellent charity strike a positive note in the lives of patients at Stobhill Hospital.”

This funding will make a significant difference in the lives of those at Stobhill Hospital, helping to transform their mental health recovery journey through the power of live music.