Prevention Through Music

Music has been shown to have many benefits for mental health conditions, so today V4P would like to highlight the benefits of music in suicide prevention. Music therapy has been proven to help process emotions, grief, and trauma. Music can also be applied as a regulating or calming agent for anxiety. So how exactly can music help with depression and anxiety? There are four main ways music can serve as an avenue for therapy: active music listening, lyric analysis, improvisation music playing, and songwriting.
Listening to music can be used to regulate or alter your mood. Selecting a song with rhythmic and repetitive aspects in it engages the neocortex of our brain which lowers impulsivity and calms us. With lyric analysis, you are encouraged to give insight to a songs lyric or give alternative lyrics or themes that can apply to obstacles in your life. Playing instruments can encourage emotional expression, socialization and exploration of conflicts, communication, and grief. Songwriting provides an opportunity for you to express yourself in a positive way.
We at V4P want to acknowledge what an amazing tool music is in the world of suicide prevention. So, grab your favorite fun song and turn up the volume. If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255, or dial 911. The Crisis Text Line for Georgia is Text GA to 741741, this is a free 24/7 text line for people in crisis.