A University of Limerick study has shown that music therapy and art therapy can help to reduce anxiety and improve wellbeing among women attending perinatal mental health services.
Pui Sze Cheung, a doctoral student at UL’s Irish World Academy of Music & Dance, successfully completed a Maternity Arts Project at the University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL).
The results of the study indicate a promising role for music therapy and art therapy in reducing anxiety and improving wellbeing among women attending perinatal mental health services in Limerick.
This project is based on Pui Sze’s doctoral research supervised by Dr Tríona McCaffrey (Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, UL), Dr Sylvia Murphy-Tighe (Department of Nursing and Midwifery, UL) and Dr Mas Mahady, Consultant Psychiatrist with the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Team (UMHL).
Originally launched by UMHL, the Limerick Children and Young Persons Services Committee, Limerick Culture and Arts Office and PAUL Partnership Limerick, this innovative service has been recognized by the Department of Health who have announced further funding for its’ continuance through the ‘Women’s Health Fund’.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD and Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler TD recently announced an additional €1.9m in funding for women’s mental health services in 2022. This latest allocation will see a notable increase of mental health support and services for women across Ireland.
Music Therapist and doctoral student, Pui Sze Cheung said: “I feel truly privileged to have the chance to support the women and babies through this project - to be part of their journey of growth and transformation, to share their grief, fear, sorrow, victory, love, joy, and excitement, and to overcome both big and small challenges at one of the most crucial times of their lives…and the most wonderful part is, we did this through music therapy.”
Dr Triona McCaffrey, Lecturer in Music Therapy, Irish World Academy, UL, said: “This research collaboration between the Irish World Academy, Department of Nursing and Midwifery and the Specialist Perinatal Team at University Maternity Hospital Limerick, has generated promising results in terms of improving the wellbeing of women who experience mental health challenges during the perinatal period.
“These results strengthen the case for inclusion of music therapy and art therapy in specialist perinatal mental health services nationally and internationally,” Dr McCaffrey added.
Maria Gibbons, Candidate Advanced Midwife Practitioner, Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Team at UMHL, said: “Art and Music therapy compliments the work we do as practitioners on the specialist perinatal mental health team. I have observed how this creative therapy has given mothers a safe place and a means of expressing emotions which they would otherwise have found very difficult to do. It has allowed them to regain control and get a sense of self at an extremely vulnerable time in their lives.”
Professor Helen Phelan, Director of the Irish World Academy said: “We are very proud of the leadership being provided by Irish World Academy faculty and postgraduate researchers around the important role of the arts in health.
“Enhancing the wellbeing of new and expectant mothers through therapeutic engagement with music is one of the many ways in which our teaching and research supports real-world impact and change.”