Music plays an important part in many people’s lives. It gives individuals an opportunity to express themselves. It can also be deeply rooted in identity and culture. This can give many people a sense of belonging. Music is a powerful tool that can be part of many therapeutic interventions.
Key Changes is an award-winning national charity working with local communities to promote positive mental health and wellbeing through music. The charity’s innovative approach draws on clinical therapeutic techniques and music industry practice using creative collaboration and culturally relevant music activities and genres to engage service users.
The sessions provided by Key Changes are facilitated by a specially trained musician / producer using professional music equipment. During the sessions at Cygnet Hospital Harrow service users have been able to participate in song writing, music production and recording, and open mic sessions.
The driving force behind getting Key Changes involved at Cygnet Hospital Harrow was occupational therapist Himani Nahta who said: “I have observed that music can be used as a therapeutic tool because of the sensory and creative experience it provides. This makes it relevant to our neurodivergent service users who have communication challenges as well.
“This initiative was started with a desire to create an occupational opportunity for the service users on our low secure ward. With the support of my Head of Occupational Therapy, Michelle Van Vuren, I was then able to establish this service across all wards at Cygnet Hospital Harrow. It has given our service users an opportunity to express, learn, experience and create something meaningful for themselves.”
The sessions have certainly proved to be very popular with service users with one saying: “I enjoy every session and I look forward to the next one. What I like the most is the opportunity to record my music. I save it in my device to listen to it later. I like the producer as well.”
Another service user remarked: “This is without a doubt the best Occupational Therapy activity that there is. I feel a sense of freedom having producers I can regularly see that improve my writing skills and can teach me things.”
To find out more about Key Changes please visit their website.