Mental Health Awareness Week

 World Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health is a serious topic that I feel isn’t discussed as much as is necessary in our society. It is slowly getting noticed more and the importance of a healthy mental state is becoming more acknowledged but this progress is slow and it needs to change. To make it clearer in your mind, I’m going to start with some statistics to help you realise how vital mental health is and how much it is being ignored.

• Mental Health problems are becoming one of the main causes of the overall disease burden
  worldwide

• 
  Mental health and behavioural problems (eg depression, anxiety) have been noted to be the primary sources of disability worldwide. Mental Health causes over 40 million years of disability in 20 - 29 year olds.

• Major depression is considered the second leading cause of disability worldwide whilst also being a major factor in suicide rates and ischemic heart disease.

• Roughly, 1 in 6 people in the past week have experienced a common mental health problem 

• In 2013 - 6,233 suicides were recorded in the UK for people aged 15 and older

• In 2018, there were 6,507 deaths by suicide in the UK alone - that's a rate of 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people)

• 4-10% of people in England will experience depression in their lifetime

• Mixed anxiety and depression is estimated to cause one fifth of days lost from work in Britain

Thank you to the Mental Health Foundation for these statistics. 

As you can see, Mental Health is a prominent part of our society and it needs to be addressed quickly, effectively and correctly. A simple way to help reduce your stress and thus increase your mental health - even a slight improvement is an improvement - is Music. The power of music is pushed aside when the conversation of Mental Health comes up but this is wrong. Music can be a free, small and simple task that is accessible to everyone and can have positive impacts on a person’s Mental Health.

This year, Mental Health Awareness Week is celebrated during 4th October - 10th October and this should be the time when a real focus is placed on supporting, helping and combating Mental Health. 

So HOW can Music improve Mental Health:

• It can elevate your mood and motivation

• Can aid relaxation

• Can increase the efficiency of your brain processing

How can it be used in everyday life?

Music, in particular classical music, can help you focus. Music with a tempo of 60 bpm increases the efficiency of the brain in processing information. If this type of music is played softly in the background whilst you get on with tasks, it can help you to really focus and process what is happening. 

Music can be used to help talk or express your emotions - expressing your emotions isn’t easy for everyone (it certainly isn’t for me) and so creating your own music can help express and process your emotions. Even if you don’t know where to start in composing music or don’t have the time to compose music, then find a song that is similar to your thoughts and play this to help you express your emotions.

Music can be used to stop you from feeling lonely or isolated and can help you connect socially. Sharing a playlist with your friends or finding new friends over favourite bands is a simple way that easily connects people which is important for a healthy mental state.

An easy and obvious way that Music can be used in everyday life that can help improve Mental Health is that it boosts creativity. If you need to complete a creative project or simply need new ways to improve your mood, listen to some music and see what ideas spring to mind. 

Put it simply - Music helps you to RELAX! Listening to the right kind of music and sitting or lying comfy can make you feel relaxed in no time. Relaxation is vital for a healthy mental state and having a little time each day to relax can help you to rewind and de-stress.

Do you need to tidy up? Do you need to complete a task? Do you need to do exercise? Listening to your favourite pieces of music can act as a motivational force. You’ll find it easier to get started on a task if you listen to your music at a high volume. So try it next time you’re struggling to get off the couch and see where it takes you!

WHY is Music beneficial to a person’s Mental Health:

• Music releases dopamine (the feel-good chemical in your brain) therefore listening to music can actively improve a person’s happiness and consequently mental health - dopamine levels were increased by up to 9% if it was music they enjoyed.

• Listening to music is believed to help organise the firing of nerve cells in the right half of the cerebral cortex (the part of the brain responsible for higher functions). Using music and listening to music before tests acts as an “exercise” that warms up the brain cells which helps them to process information more efficiently.

• Bright, cheerful music can make people of all ages feel happy, energetic and alert and can even lift the mood of people with depressive illness. Music Therapy reduces symptoms of depression and it actually reduces pain. Music-assisted relaxation can also improve the quality of sleep patients with sleep disorder.

There are many other reasons and scientific explanations behind the use of Music on Mental Health. If you ever get the chance, read articles on the effect of Music on the brain and health as it is a cheap and effective option to help Mental Health even if it doesn’t have a massive impact. ANY progress is progress.

I previously wrote a blog post on Music and EPQ where I have attached my own EPQ Dissertation and powerpoint. My whole EPQ was on the impact of Music Therapy with a large focus on Mental Health - PTSD and Degenerative Disease. Other areas I looked at were Children with Cancer and Stroke Victims. Feel free to read through or watch the powerpoint to gain a better awareness on how Music can affect Mental Health.

Reach out. Talk to people. Be Supportive.

Together, we can help everyone!