Mental health inpatient experiences of song-writing : a qualitative study

While studies have highlighted song-writing as an enjoyable pastime for people experiencing mental illness, little is known about its benefits for recovery. This study explores consumer inpatient experiences of engaging in song-writing in mental health inpatient units through lyric analysis and qualitative interviews. Consumers in acute mental health units at a large metropolitan hospital took part in group song-writing activities over a 14-month period. Songs were written in partnership with the music therapist and the participants. In this study the same melodic structure was used for each group for consistency. One hundred songs were written by 110 participants and lyrics were collected with consent. Following purposive sampling, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 11 participants. Thematic content analysis of the data was undertaken using an inductive approach. Themes identified from song lyrics were romantic love, spirituality, the meaning of life and illness. Themes identified from interview data related to the process of writing the song, the process of collaborating, the expression of emotion, music in hospital and the relationship of music to mental health. Findings highlight that song-writing provides a collaborative activity in which participants with acute mental distress are able to express themselves and explore issues relevant to their illness and recovery. Facilitated song-writing provides an important creative therapeutic outlet, contributing to recovery in mental health settings.