Recovery Themes in Songs Written by Adults Living With Serious Mental Illnesses

Journal

Canadian Journal of Music Therapy

Year

2009

Volume

15

Issue

1

First Page

37

Last Page

58

Abstract

This arts-based study used hermeneutic phenomenology to answer the question 'What do songs written by adult music therapy participants diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) reveal about their lived experience of mental illness?' Three participants living with serious mental illness provided informed consent to participate in the study A total of 17 songs representing illness narratives written in music therapy were retrospectively selected. Open-ended interviews were conducted with each of the participants to augment their illness narratives. The analysis of these data resulted in findings that are presented in the form of a model. Songwriting was also used by the researcher as a tool for analysis, resulting in a song that describes the model and conveys the relevant themes. The findings revealed insights into participants' interpretations of both their illness experiences as well as discoveries into catalysts that promote recovery from serious mental illness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Music and Health Institute Terms

Composition; Interviews; Mental Health; Music Therapy; Songwriting

Indexed Terms

recovery; songs; serious mental illnesses; hermeneutic phenomenology; Mental Disorders; Recovery (Disorders); Severity (Disorders); Serious Mental Illness; Hermeneutics; Phenomenology

Study Type

Phenomenological Study; Qualitative Methods

Disciplines

Music Therapy

PubMed ID

2010-15222-005

Document Type

Article

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