Group singing found to benefit new mums' mental health

Backed by research, Melodies for Mums, by Breathe Arts Health Research, is a group singing programme for new mothers who may be experiencing symptoms associated with postnatal depression such as anxiety, low mood and loneliness.

To date, it has supported more than 200 mothers and babies.

Women come together on a weekly basis to connect with each other and sing, with the programme being redesigned to be delivered online during the pandemic. Fifteen six-week programmes were delivered online between January and June this year.

A nationwide programme, supported by funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund, was attended by 60 new mothers and their babies from more than 30 locations. They reported:

• 87 per cent felt their bond with their babies increased as a result of the programme
• 90 per cent experienced an improvement in symptoms of postnatal depression
• 89 per cent felt happier as a result of the programme
• wellbeing scores increased for 90 per cent
• 63 per cent felt more confident singing to their baby after completing the programme.

Further programmes have been running as part of a research study with King’s College London looking at the effects of group singing on maternal mental health of new mothers. As well as the group singing sessions, women participate in clinical screening with a clinician and some additional follow-up work.

A participant said, 'The reason I love Melodies for Mums is because of the music itself and what it does for all of us in the sessions. It doesn’t matter what language we sing, we all come together and learn how to be together, it also helps that the songs are so catchy and easy to pick up.’

Other comments included, ‘The music lifted our spirits and is a driving force for connection and healing’ and ‘The sessions really increase your energy level and mood… There was no stigma. We were all just there singing and trying to find ourselves through music.’

There will be one last online programme starting on Tuesday 29 June, with in-person sessions planned for the end of the summer.

For further information go to: https://breatheahr.org/melodies-for-mums/ or email M4M@breatheahr.org.