TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the role and impact of group songwriting with multiple stakeholders in recovery-oriented mental health services
AU - McCaffrey, Tríona
AU - Higgins, Paula
AU - Monahan, Clara
AU - Moloney, Sinéad
AU - Nelligan, Siobhán
AU - Clancy, Aoife
AU - Cheung, Pui Sze
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 GAMUT–The Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Introduction: At the heart of successful operational transformation to recovery-oriented mental health services is the establishment of meaningful, respectful and equitable relationships between multiple “stakeholders” including service users, providers and carers. Group songwriting has a possible role to play in fostering such relationships as it offers opportunities to practice core life skills, adopt new roles, and, encourages respect for the perspectives of others. Method: This study explored the potential role and impact of group songwriting in recovery-oriented mental health services. A total of eight service users and one staff member took part in three song-writing focus groups led by a qualified music therapist. Afterwards, semi-structured individual interviews were carried out to explore participants’ personal experiences of focus group participation. Interview transcripts were analysed using Thematic Content Analysis. Results: Three original songs were composed in three focus groups. The lyrics reflected themes including (a) mental health service growth, (b) empowerment and freedom during music engagement and (c) empathy for others. Analysis of nine interviews revealed four themes including: “Group songwriting breaks down barriers in ways that help to promote equality,” “Group songwriting offered new perspectives,” “Group songwriting can expose perceived vulnerabilities” and, “Group songwriting may be approached with knowledge of music’s capacity to promote well-being.” Discussion: Findings suggest that group songwriting offers stakeholders a meaningful, reciprocal and equitable space that can foster the concept of co-production that is foundational to effective recovery-oriented working in mental health.
AB - Introduction: At the heart of successful operational transformation to recovery-oriented mental health services is the establishment of meaningful, respectful and equitable relationships between multiple “stakeholders” including service users, providers and carers. Group songwriting has a possible role to play in fostering such relationships as it offers opportunities to practice core life skills, adopt new roles, and, encourages respect for the perspectives of others. Method: This study explored the potential role and impact of group songwriting in recovery-oriented mental health services. A total of eight service users and one staff member took part in three song-writing focus groups led by a qualified music therapist. Afterwards, semi-structured individual interviews were carried out to explore participants’ personal experiences of focus group participation. Interview transcripts were analysed using Thematic Content Analysis. Results: Three original songs were composed in three focus groups. The lyrics reflected themes including (a) mental health service growth, (b) empowerment and freedom during music engagement and (c) empathy for others. Analysis of nine interviews revealed four themes including: “Group songwriting breaks down barriers in ways that help to promote equality,” “Group songwriting offered new perspectives,” “Group songwriting can expose perceived vulnerabilities” and, “Group songwriting may be approached with knowledge of music’s capacity to promote well-being.” Discussion: Findings suggest that group songwriting offers stakeholders a meaningful, reciprocal and equitable space that can foster the concept of co-production that is foundational to effective recovery-oriented working in mental health.
KW - Songwriting
KW - arts-based research
KW - co-production
KW - mental health recovery
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087126329&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/08098131.2020.1771755
DO - 10.1080/08098131.2020.1771755
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85087126329
SN - 0809-8131
VL - 30
SP - 41
EP - 60
JO - Nordic Journal of Music Therapy
JF - Nordic Journal of Music Therapy
IS - 1
ER -