Stephen Clift, Sharon Manship and Lizzi Stephens
Clift and Morrison (2011) report that weekly singing over eight months for people with enduring mental health issues led to clinically important reductions in mental distress. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Clift and Morrison (2011) report that weekly singing over eight months for people with enduring mental health issues led to clinically important reductions in mental distress. The purpose of this paper is to test the robustness of the earlier findings.
Design/methodology/approach
Four community singing groups for people with mental health issues ran weekly from November 2014 to the end of 2015. Evaluation place over a six-month period using two validated questionnaires: the short Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10) questionnaire, and the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS).
Findings
In all, 26 participants completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires. CORE-10 scores were significantly reduced, and WEMWBS scores significantly increased. Comparisons with the earlier study found a similar pattern of improvements on CORE items that are part of the “problems” sub-scale in the full CORE questionnaire. There was also evidence from both studies of participants showing clinically important improvements in CORE-10 scores.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitations of the study are a small sample size and the lack of a randomised control group.
Originality/value
No attempts have been made previously to directly test the transferability of a singing for health model to a new geographical area and to evaluate outcomes using the same validated measure.
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Keywords
To provide a context for the contributions to the special issue.
Abstract
Purpose
To provide a context for the contributions to the special issue.
Design/methodology/approach
An outline of key UK developments and publications.
Findings
Considerable interest and activity in the arts and health field in the UK since the late 1990s.
Originality/value
Provides a guide to essential reading for anyone unfamiliar with the arts and health field.
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Ian Morrison and Stephen Clift
Changes in government policies threaten to remove an important source of funding that enables people with mental health problems to be supported to enter and progress from further…
Abstract
Changes in government policies threaten to remove an important source of funding that enables people with mental health problems to be supported to enter and progress from further education to employment and university. Ian Morrison and Stephen Clift describe one such scheme whose future is in doubt, and the journeys undertaken by some of the people it has supported.
Laetitia Livesey, Ian Morrison, Stephen Clift and Paul Camic
The aim of this study is to explore the benefits of choral singing for mental wellbeing and health as perceived by a cross‐national sample of amateur choral singers.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to explore the benefits of choral singing for mental wellbeing and health as perceived by a cross‐national sample of amateur choral singers.
Design/methodology/approach
Data consisted of written responses to open‐ended questions. These were derived from 169 participants selected from a larger dataset reporting high and low levels of emotional wellbeing on the WHOQOL‐BREF questionnaire. A majority of participants were female and aged over 50. A thematic analysis was followed by a content analysis and Pearson chi square analyses. Comparisons were made between different ages, genders and nationalities and participants with high and low reported emotional wellbeing.
Findings
The analysis revealed multiple themes covering perceived benefits in social, emotional, physical, and cognitive domains. There were no significant differences in frequency of themes across any of the participant sociodemographic and wellbeing categories. The results indicate that benefits of singing may be experienced similarly irrespective of age, gender, nationality or wellbeing status.
Research limitations/implications
Implications for further research include future use of validated instruments to measure outcomes and research into the benefits of singing in other cultures. The results of this study suggest that choral singing could be used to promote mental health and treat mental illness.
Originality/value
This study examines a cross‐national sample which is larger than previous studies in this area. These findings contribute to understanding of the complex and interacting factors which might contribute to wellbeing and health, as well as specific benefits of singing.
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Stephen Clift and Ian Morrison
This paper aims to describe the development and evaluation of an innovative community singing initiative with mental health services users and supporters in East Kent, UK.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the development and evaluation of an innovative community singing initiative with mental health services users and supporters in East Kent, UK.
Design/methodology/approach
A network of seven singing groups was established between September 2009 and June 2010. The choirs met weekly in three terms with breaks for Christmas and Easter, and joined together for two public performances in February and June 2010. In total, 137 participants were involved in the evaluation processes over this period. Of these, 42 provided complete data on the CORE questionnaire, a widely used clinical measure of mental distress, at baseline and eight months later.
Findings
Clinically significant improvements were observed in response to the CORE. These changes, together with qualitative feedback from participants, demonstrate that group singing can have substantial benefits in aiding the recovery of people with a history of serious and enduring mental health problems. A limited body of research has also shown that singing can be helpful for people with existing mental and physical health problems.
Originality/value
The research finds marked improvements in mental wellbeing on a clinically validated measure for people with a range of enduring mental health issues participating in a network of small choirs. Qualitative evidence indicates that group singing can offer a wide range of emotional and social benefits for mental health service users.
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Current research in both cognitive neuroscience and what has been called “positive psychology” point to the need for wholesale reappraisal of what happens in schools, especially…
Abstract
Purpose
Current research in both cognitive neuroscience and what has been called “positive psychology” point to the need for wholesale reappraisal of what happens in schools, especially with regard to the wellbeing of children. Seeks to examine this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
Reviews and discussion of research by the World Health Organization and current UK reports on the mental health of children together with US and European research on the optimum conditions for children's learning.
Findings
Current research findings in both psychology and cognitive neurology suggest that the condition of “positive emotion” is a prerequisite of deep, transferable learning, and also of a healthy mind and body. The author suggests that involvement in creative activity and creative thinking in any context seems to be a particularly effective way of promoting this sense of wellbeing.
Practical implications
A curriculum and school ethos designed to promote a sense of security and happiness would be a powerful means of addressing under‐achievement in large sections of UK society. It is hypothesized that the mood of distrust and unhappiness, which negatively affects both the health and learning of many young people, would be effectively addressed by a curriculum which concentrated more on the kind of creative and practical activities which provoke positive emotion.
Originality/value
Provides 12 practical recommendations arising from ongoing work of educationists, psychologists and neurologists for consideration by leaders of health education and school policy.
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Elaine Argyle and Gillie Bolton
Drawing on literature and the evaluation of a UK community Arts in Health project, this article aims first to demonstrate that, in spite of the common association in mental health…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on literature and the evaluation of a UK community Arts in Health project, this article aims first to demonstrate that, in spite of the common association in mental health practice between art and the use of psychotherapeutic techniques, involvement in art creation can, in itself, have a sustained and positive impact on the mental and social wellbeing of participants and, second, to give an analysis of the different forms of arts involvement in health.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative evaluation of a successful process‐based arts in health‐care provision to existing vulnerable mental health community groups is discussed.
Findings
While the implementation of traditional forms of art therapy tends to be the preserve of those with specialist training, process‐orientated art for health projects have been found to be more versatile and are developments in which many practitioners potentially play an important part. Arts in Health provision in a community setting can offer positive health benefits, and aid health promotion.
Practical implications
More widespread, sustained funding and further evaluation and research for this accessible, cost‐effective means of health promotion in a community setting are needed.
Originality/value
Arts in Health, in institutions (such as prison and hospital) as well as community, is a rapidly expanding, successful and attractive, yet severely under‐funded provision. Descriptive in‐depth evaluations and critical analyses of the field, such as that presented here, need to be made available in order to develop the field practically and theoretically.