Introduction to Melodies for Mums
Melodies for Mums courses in south London began in 2017 and now welcome more than 400 women per year. Specially designed singing classes are clinically effective in treating mothers with postnatal depression, a major three-year study has found. The authors say they could also be cost-effective for the NHS at a time when mental health services are under pressure.
The Program
At a children’s center on a housing estate in south London, a group of 12 young mothers sit in a circle on the floor as their babies cry, crawl and sleep on mats in front of them. The group works on a mix of lullabies, folk and gospel, switching from Spanish to Congolese to Swahili in rounds of four-part harmonies. The entire session, from music selection to group size to the setup of the room itself, was carefully tailored to address the symptoms of postnatal depression.
Personal Experience
“I can’t emphasize enough how game-changing it has been for me,” says one mother, who started the course earlier this year after her care coordinator recommended it. She says she felt unwell during the pregnancy and still felt "vulnerable and very anxious" after the birth of her daughter. "Being a new mother is one of the loneliest times because you’re kind of in an isolated bubble," she says. "And the very first session here, I came in and thought, ‘Oh, this is my safe place.’ I’m safe here."
Postnatal Depression
Postnatal depression is a common problem, affecting more than one in ten women within a year of giving birth. Symptoms are varied but can include persistent sadness or depression, problems with self-care, insomnia, and withdrawal from other people. Melodies for Mums launched in 2017 as a free weekly course in Southwark, south London, based on previous research suggesting group singing can reduce stress and anxiety.
Research Findings
In 2019, the sessions became part of a study funded by a £2.6 million grant to examine how local arts projects could improve physical and mental health on a larger scale. The findings examined nearly 200 mothers with postnatal depression over an eight-month period. The women were divided into two groups, with one group assigned to the singing class and the other offering more typical support such as community gaming classes. All mothers reported a reduction in their symptoms by week 10, but this improvement continued in the singing group for another six months beyond the end of the sessions.
Long-Lasting Effect
The study found that singing intervention is not only immediately effective for depression, but also has a long-lasting effect. Women in the singing group also had a much lower dropout rate and were more likely to say they found it well suited to their needs and easy to use. The researchers have their theories on why singing itself seemed to have a beneficial effect, including the presence of other mothers going through the same experiences and the relaxing effect of singing.
NHS Waiting Lists
Organizers emphasize that singing lessons do not have to replace talk therapy or medication. However, for some women they could be either free or a quicker and more accessible alternative at a time when there can be long waits for NHS mental health care. Some mothers may wait up to six months for assessment and up to a year for individual treatment. The Kings College London study found that the cost of the music course was comparable to alternatives such as educational programs and significantly lower than the cost of group therapy or home visits.
Expansion and Future Plans
The arts organization has now trialled its first singing lessons for new fathers. And it has also been commissioned by the World Health Organization to train teams to roll out the courses in Denmark, Italy, Romania and other countries. At the children’s center in south London, the group talks not only about the friendships they have made, but also about the skills they have acquired over the ten weeks. “I have two very small children, so it can be very stressful at home,” says one mother. "I take the singing home with me, so now when things get stressful I start humming and I don’t even think about it, it just happens and I deal with it."
