Witnessing the impact of music for wellbeing in young people by Heidi Shutts (Young Music Leader on Quench Arts’ Plugin project)
I first began my role as a Young Music Leader in April 2023 and this was my first experience within a mental health setting. As I am currently studying Arts for Health at university, this opportunity was something I was excited about, to learn more about the role music can play in wellbeing and gain more experience within this area.
Like myself, many young participants were apprehensive to start the process given the fact it was a completely new experience. Many young individuals would often sing covers of songs at the beginning of the project to settle in and adjust to this new musical intervention. Young people would also avoid eye contact with the music leaders and be quite reserved and introverted during sessions.
During one particular group session, however, there was a turning point where participants were invited to share their work with each other. These performances were a mix of covers and original songs. During the sharing, it was heart-warming to witness the bonding experience that music can facilitate for these young people. Since they were all friends, formed through their inpatient stays, they were very supportive of each other’s lyrics and were more likely to discuss and bond over shared experiences. These connections built on the wards were one of my favourite parts about the project. Once again, it proved how effective and powerful music is in allowing people to build relationships with others and improve their social wellbeing.
After this session, participants were increasingly more confident and interested in having their music recorded and wanting one-to-one sessions with the music leaders to focus on their work. It also encouraged some members to show us their original songs they had created but never mentioned in previous sessions. One of the greatest surprises to me was how many young people were writing original songs. Nearly all the individuals in the ward were creating original material of a high standard. As a songwriter myself, I understand how writing lyrics is an effective form of expression, and I felt extremely privileged to hear everyone’s stories and experiences being shared through music. The more we got familiar with these young people across the weeks, the more likely they were to show us new material and share backstories of their lyrics and why they created these tracks. For many, it was an opportunity to gain clarity on situations and a chance to place their emotions down on paper.
Although some individuals were experiencing challenging days on the ward, music appeared to be a safe zone, where they could express themselves freely without fear of judgement. One participant even mentioned how Quench Arts was one of the reasons why they enjoyed staying in the hospital, and offered positive feedback on how the musical exercises increased their wellbeing levels over the weeks. I enjoyed watching someone’s mood transform from being relatively low at the beginning of a session, to then leaving with a bright smile and sense of hope. It feels incredibly rewarding to be a part of something so beneficial for young people’s mental health.
Some activities were very relaxed, as young people would listen to music they enjoyed and found relatable, whilst we played along using instruments. Participants would also share their reasons for liking certain music, revealing specific connections with lyrics and how they relate to their personal life. Others enjoyed learning instruments and challenging themselves to maintain a healthy mindset. Every week, group members would increase their time spent in musical sessions and be proud of themselves for their progress in learning instruments or new music. One individual even started creating their own tracks on software outside of Quench, which showed how inspiring they found the sessions at the hospital. Staff on the ward also mentioned how focused and happy participants were after engaging in music, stating they haven’t seen them smile as much for weeks.
To me, this project has been one of the best and most rewarding experiences of my life. It has increased my passion and faith in music and how it has the power to transform someone’s life. It has been an honour to witness the positive impact with my own two eyes instead of just reading about the benefits from a textbook. I will carry all the experiences and lessons I have learned on this project throughout university and my professional career. I will be forever grateful for this wonderful opportunity.