Singing carols really can make you happy

Singing in groups can boost your mental health, a new s t u dy has found. Researchers observing a grassroots initiative that conducts weekly choral workshops have found that the act of singing and socialising together can benefit people with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.

After six months with the programme, the team found that some people even claimed the activity ‘saved their sanity.’ The research, led by a team from the University of East Angila (UEA), worked with the Norfolk-based project Sing Your Heart Out (SYHO).

It has roughly 120 participants who attend four free workshops per week. The researchers conducted interviews over the course of six months, speaking with participants, organisers, and workshop leaders. Of the group, roughly two-thirds have had contact with mental health services. The study revealed the group activity had major benefits for those involved.

‘We found that singing as part of a group contributes to people’s recovery from mental health problems,’ said Professor Tom Shakespeare, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School.

‘The main way that Sing Your Heart Out differs from a choir is that anyone can join in regardless of ability. There’s also very little pressure because the participants are not rehearsing towards a performance. It’s very inclusive and it’s just for fun. The format is also different to a therapy group because there’s no pressure for anyone to discuss their condition.’

In the report, published to the journal Medical Humanities, the researchers argue that singing in a group in this type of format created a feeling of belonging and wellbeing. And, the effect wasn’t fleeting.

(© Daily Mail, London)