Music is Mental Health

If you’re reading this publication, I’m positive you understand, if not deeply appreciate, the power of music. You know how it makes you feel; how it can give you company, comfort you in sadness, and amplify your happiness. You know how important music is in the traditions you celebrate, friends you choose, and identity you claim. You know music is an intrinsic part of human existence itself, so you understand the complex, deeply interwoven relationship between them. In recent years, this phenomenon has increasingly been explored within science, and the effects of music in human physiology and psychology have really started to shape up.

You might have heard about music therapy— the relatively recent clinical application of musical interventions to treat patients with an array of diagnoses. To me, finding out about the use of music in medicine was a big deal. For the first time, it felt like the effects of music I had always experienced qualitatively were receiving quantitative validation. Seeing clinically measurable changes firsthand convinced me of the magic of music even further. When I volunteered at a music therapy institute, the social, physical, and emotional improvements I observed in the differently abled children I worked with were transformative — it was all the proof I really needed.

As this article explains, there’s been ample scientific evidence that music has the ability to modulate mood and emotion in people. In some studies, it has even been shown to cause physiological changes, such as in blood pressure and pulse. If you’ve ever wondered why listening to sad music when you’re sad makes you feel better (why wouldn’t it make you feel sadder?), there’s an explanation for that too, as this research from students at Ohio State University explains. There are tons of exciting investigations currently underway – from rhythmic music as a guide to steadier movement in Parkinson’s patients, to how it can make us happier, smarter, and more personable over time. As both a musician and pre-healthcare student, I am thrilled about the potential music has as a tool for concrete good.

Mental health has become somewhat of a buzzword, especially during recent hardships. Without knowing what it actually looks like or requires, the phrase is thrown around just as something relevant and politically correct. The first thing a lot of people associate with mental health is therapy, but I’ve never believed in clinical efforts as the only path. As a holistic, long-term process, better mental health can be maintained by finding personalized activities that inspire true joy and catharsis. For many of us, this doesn’t necessarily include talking to a stranger in their office or taking overpriced, gentrified yoga classes. For me, the perfect solution always has been music, and I strongly advocate for it as a mental health tool.

When I’m in a certain headspace, listening to the appropriate music is almost like medicine. Although this is non-scientific, I think of it as finding music that gives off the same frequencies of vibrations that I’m giving off myself. I’m no doctor, but the next time you feel stuck, try finding music that resonates with whatever you’re feeling, lyrically or otherwise. I’ve found that making playlists is a form of therapy in itself, as I very mindfully look inwards in order to seek music that matches my emotions. Over time, I’ve formulated clearly organized playlists for almost any mood I could ever be in: instant fixes. Yet another musical route towards healing is playing an instrument. As one benefit among many, the larger, focused purpose of playing an instrument can overpower many of the fleeting emotions we feel and distract us from unwelcome thoughts.

These three examples are just the tip of the iceberg. It’s obvious how diverse and flexible this amazing medium is, making it so that there is something for each person. Despite unknowingly experiencing the benefits, people don’t always think about music as a health tool, but I feel more of us should explore it in this way.

Sometimes, I find it difficult to condense discussions of music because it is a subject that can be approached from so many different angles that it is simply overwhelming. On one hand, music is a brilliant personal mental health tool. On the other, it is a universal medium that concertedly influences millions at a time. Its creators, therefore, have a platform unlike any other. While an increasing number of artists are becoming candid with their struggles, there is largely still a void in the conversations surrounding disorder onset, treatment, and recovery. Using music to increase awareness on this topic humanizes not only the artists we idolize, but also the very mental health challenges these individuals combat, making them much less foreign and abstract.

We know there is a dire need for more research, resources, infrastructure, and accessibility having to do with mental health. The stigma and politics surrounding the topic have caused huge roadblocks in acknowledging its issues and providing adequate responses. Our cultural values lead many of us to view these “invisible” psychological battles as nonexistent, often leading to ignoring or blaming victims. Buzzword or not, mental health discussions must deepen and manifest into real solutions. My hope is that the utility of music, as both a medium for change and treatment for mental health betterment, is further explored and implemented where it is needed most.

Written by Sanjana Sanghani