May 18, 2020 | Blogs and News
By Sienna H., updated May 2020 — 2 min read —
Mental illness in children and adolescents adds an additional level of stress and difficulty at a key point of development. For many of these young patients, Music Therapy provides relief from their mental health conditions. It offers a calm and non-threatening medium for them to explore their thoughts and feelings. Our mission at Children’s Music Fund includes providing the benefits of Music Therapy for young patients affected by mental illness.
Music Therapy increases communication, socialization and memory in children. Because Music Therapy bridges the gap between art and science, and the artistic nature of the therapy allows children and teenagers to open up and explore their feelings. It also helps them cope with their mental health issues. One of our Music Therapist states,
Teens have difficulty expressing their emotions verbally, and lyrics can help them to find the right words to express and relate to their emotions.
Most adolescents consider music to be an important part of their life. The lyrics resonate with them and help validate their feelings. Music Therapists use the importance of lyrics to help their patients relate and communicate. Sometimes, a patient will write lyrics outlining fears, goals and dreams, then uses the music to process and validate current feelings. Through song writing, patients are able to begin to manage their fear and anxieties.
While the long-term effects of Music Therapy on children and adolescents with mental illnesses still needs to be further validated, the short-term results are promising. Patients are able to communicate through music, process their emotions, feel successful and in control, and take steps towards their recovery. Music has a positive benefit on the mind and body.
Success stories from children and teens that have used Music Therapy as part of their healthcare treatment plan are inspirational. Read some of them posted here from our CMF Kids. If you are in need of additional information on mental health issues in children, talk with your healthcare provider. Resources available online include, but are not limited to, Child Mind Institute (not an endorsement of services provided) and the CDC.