World Music Day 2021: Effect of music on mental health – Yes, the Beatles do make you feel alive

June 21 is observed as World Music Day across 120 countries. This day came into being after Maurice Fleuret and Jack Lange first recognised it in 1982. This day is also known as Fête de la Musique. The day aims at celebrating the wonderful world of music and the musicians who are a part of it. Acknowledging the importance and prominence of music and the happiness it brings to the world along with appreciating the artists that produce it.

Music and mental health

Here are some ways in which music affects and benefits mental health:

1. Works as a stress buster: Many people think of music as an escape from their stress infused life. According to a research published in PLOS ONE called “The Effect of Music on the Human Stress Response”, a positive effect on the stress response of humans was found. So next time you feel drained, just plug in your earphones and commence on a musical journey where everything is beautiful.

2. Enhanced memory: Many people like listening to songs in languages that they may or may not understand. Does that stop them? Absolutely not. Music does not know any barriers and it’s meant to bring people together. Research published in the journal Memory & Cognition called “Singing can facilitate foreign language learning”, shows the memory-enhancing benefits of music. So next time someone mocks you for listening to K-Pop, ignore because you already know you’re better than them.

3. Aids pain relief: Therapeutic effects of music is widely talked about. According to a research published in the Pain Management Nursing titled “Effect of Music as Nursing Intervention for People Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia”, the pain-relieving benefits of music among patients was found.

Music therapy

Music is an integral part of people’s lives and it’s used for recreational and therapeutic purposes. Therapeutic, you ask? The concept of music therapy uses music as a means of treating mental and physical health. The process may involve dancing, singing, listening to music, writing music, discussing music, or even making music. Some types of music therapies include community music therapy, Benenzon music therapy, Nordoff-Robbins music therapy, and vocal psychotherapy. It can help with conditions such as headaches, anxiety, depression, post-stress traumatic disorder (PTSD), and insomnia. Being relevant among people of all age groups, it is used by healthcare professionals as an additional treatment method that has proven to be effective so far.

The Beatles – A musical miracle

Try screaming “Hey Jude” in a group of people, at least one of them would definitely come forward and scream back “Don’t make it bad”. That’s the magic that The Beatles left behind with their music. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a tough time for people worldwide. Hope is what got people going and music was one of the many driving factors of that hope. When The Beatles said, “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be”, we all can unanimously agree that it brought feelings of inexplicable calm.

As reported by Reuters, “On New York’s Long Island, the joyful “Here Comes the Sun” blasts overhead on the public address system at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside every time a COVID-19 patient is discharged. In Detroit, one of the newest U.S. hot spots for the fast-spreading disease, a Beaumont Health nurse said the 1969 Beatles hit was played not just when patients are discharged but each time they are taken off a ventilator to breathe on their own. “The smiles returning to the faces. Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been here,” rings out the song that George Harrison wrote about renewal after a long, dark winter.”

So the next time if your find yourself in trouble, close your eyes and sing to yourself, “And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me, Shinin’ until tomorrow, let it be”.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.