Geriatric Mental Health

Music has the power to influence people's emotions, it can make them happy, sad or angry. Music can also help recover mental illness.

The Department of Mental Health Geriatric Chhatarati Shahuju Maharaj Medical University in India is starting a music therapy clinic to treat patients with mental disorders (including dementia). Nearly 5% of people aged over 60 suffer from dementia.

SC Tiwari, the head of the Department of Geriatric Mental Health, said that music is to have a positive impact on patients suffering from mental stress. Slow and melodious music soothes tensions, rock, pop and fast music should be avoided because of negative emotions, he can shoot, and it also increases blood pressure. Thus, soft music, melodious and soothing is the way to go if you want to relieve your mental tension.

Not only can people help in music therapy with mental illness, but playing an instrument and be part of a package may also help.

Tunefoolery Concert Ensembles is a group of 50 musicians from Cambridge, Massachusetts, who are all suffering from a mental illness. The group helps the musicians away from the mental patient role in a new identity as a professional musician and performer.

"Tunefoolery is an excellent example of how non-traditional mental health treatment can really change people's lives," said one of the band members. "Music is a powerful drug, I have a tremendous feeling of belonging with Tunefoolery. I found some very good friends here. It is a job and a creative outlet at the same time.

The members perform individual acts or small ensembles, they play 75-90 concerts each year for treatment programs for mental health, hospitals, nursing homes and other places. You can visit their website at the www.tunefoolery.org .

During my research, I found a site for artists living with mental illness: www.mentalhealthmusicnetwork.net . I also found a study on how music therapy soothes mental illness: www.uninews.unimelb.edu.au/news/4302 . Check if you want, they are quite interesting.