Singing in groups could reduce anxiety and depression. New research from the University of East Anglia in the UK, in collaboration with a community singing group called Sing Your Heart Out, examined how singing with other people affected mental health. Researchers followed participants who attended free weekly singing workshops for six months. They found that singing in groups helped people recover from mental illness. Researchers said it helped people feel valued, lifted their mood, and increased their confidence, social skills and feeling of well-being.
Researcher professor Tom Shakespeare said singing as part of a group contributed to people's recovery from mental health problems. He said: "All of the participants we spoke to reported positive effects on their mental health as a direct result of taking part in the singing workshops. For some…it stood out as key to their recovery or maintenance of health." Professor Shakespeare explained that some participants called the workshops a life saver and that they saved their sanity. He said: "The key thing for everyone was [the workshops] induced fun and happiness."