The Power of Music Therapy

The Data on Mental Health

According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), there are an estimated 15% of young people globally experiencing a mental health disorder. Furthermore, NLM states this accounts for 13% of the global burden of mental health among young people. Even more alarming is the number among very young children ages 2-8 that had a diagnosed mental, behavioral or developmental disorder. NLM states that the number in the United States is almost 20% among ages 2-8 years old.  This is important because this is the age range for spiritual, physical, and mental development.

An Unconventional Solution

When one of the parents in our nonprofit mentoring workshop asked what to do to help her very young son who had just been diagnosed with ADHD, because she did not have the peace to give her son the medication prescribed for him, I went into prayer mode. This is because this mom was not alone. From teachers in our schools to parents at churches and neighborhoods, many young children have been diagnosed with one sort of mental health challenge. This can be traumatizing for any parent. The great news is there is an unconventional solution. This does not discount using prescribed medications. However, for parents that want to seek alternative ways to help their child/children improve their mental health capacity or capacities, prayerfully hope this post empowers and equips you and your family.

Research On Music Therapy

That unconventional solution is music therapy. Music is all around us. You can hear the mix of sounds as the music plays in the background at the grocery store, clothing stores, churches, and restaurants. Research from the American Psychological Association has explored how music therapy has the power to improve health outcomes among a variety of patient populations, especially premature babies, children, and people with Parkinson’s disease. There is a study highlighted in the 2013 Pediatrics Journal that suggests that some sounds, such as lullabies, may soothe preterm babies and their parents, and even improve the infants’ sleeping and eating patterns while decreasing parents’ stress. This is the power of music therapy.

Beauty of Music

The beauty of music is the different genres available. Everyone is bound to find a genre of preference. Be it gospel, instrumental, jazz, country, pop, hip hop, blues, R&B, rock, classical, reggae, salsa, folk, opera, the list goes on and on. To benefit from this unconventional solution, select your genre of music and let your child listen to it for an extended period of time weekly. You can also let your selected music play in the background in your home or wherever you are with your child. Psychologist, Dr. Daniel J. Levitin of the American Psychological Association, states that while music has long been recognized as an effective form of therapy to provide an outlet for emotions, the notion of using song, sound frequencies, and rhythm to treat physical ailments is a relatively new domain. Recent new studies have touted the benefits of using music as therapy for mental health.

Spiritual Benefit of Music

One thing that has been extremely helpful in improving and sustaining our mental health in our family, is listening to spiritual songs. That falls under the gospel and instrumental genres. If you have never listened to a gospel song or instrumental, this is a great opportunity to do so. The Bible is filled with accounts of “music therapy.” Here are some scriptures on songs:

“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered” – Psalm 71:23

“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” – Ephesians 5:19

“Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts” – Psalm 105:2

“Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre” – Psalm 150:3

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” – Colossians 3:16  

Songs or music is part of the worship experience during services at church. Since it is a spiritual experience, there is something that happens spiritually during and after worship times, that increases one’s mental well-being, relieves stress, calms emotions, improves moods, and relaxes nerves. Could we be underestimating one of the most unconventional and effective solutions for mental health in our culture? Trying out gospel or instrumental music for the first time,- then check this link out, listen to it at least once this week (it is 10 hours long) and enjoy some music therapy.