Reports and publications

Effectiveness of participative community singing intervention program on promoting resilience and mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia

Posted on: 2 October, 2012
Issue: Vol 12 No 4, October 2012 - December 2012
Related to Social and emotional wellbeing Research Queensland

Sun J, Buys N (2012)
Effectiveness of participative community singing intervention program on promoting resilience and mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia
In: Olisah V, ed. Essential notes in psychiatry: InTech: 245-252

This book chapter reports on a study that sought to investigate the efficacy of community participative singing on the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from several South East Queensland communities. Five groups of participants took part in the singing program over two, three month blocks. The sessions lasted for two hours and included relaxation, posture, breathing, and vocal exercises, as well as singing and socialisation. Using measures of resilience, depression, and quality of life, the results showed participants reported decreases in symptoms of depression and medication use, and improvements in quality of life and resilience over a six month period, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of participative community singing in enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract