Bringing music to Psychiatric patients

Music has long been considered the universal language of humanity, capable of connecting millions of hearts and soothing the pains of the soul. Today, music is not only an art form for entertainment but also plays a meaningful role in supporting the treatment of mental health disorders.

Singer Ngoc Khoa performs for psychiatric patients. Photo: Hanh Dung

For this reason, Central Psychiatric Hospital 2 (Tan Trieu Ward, Dong Nai Province) has applied music as a therapeutic approach to help patients stabilize their emotions and reintegrate into the community more quickly.

Invaluable spiritual remedy

After a month of intensive practice under the guidance of doctors and technicians, recently, T.D. (34, from Ho Chi Minh City), together with 17 other patients under treatment at the hospital, confidently took to the stage to perform the song "Cứ vui lên" (Just Be Happy).

Accompanied by music, all 18 patients sang in harmony and stayed on beat. With a cheerful melody, the group sang and swayed to the rhythm, evoking deeply moving emotions among the audience.

T.D. shared that she was hospitalized for severe depression brought on by work stress and personal struggles. Since being admitted, she has been able to open up to others, take part in hospital activities, and especially learn to sing and perform on stage. Though rehearsals were often exhausting, each time she managed to master a new song, she felt a deep sense of joy.

After finishing her performance, T.D. shared: "At this music festival organized by the hospital, I performed two songs: 'Cứ vui lên' (Just Be Happy) and 'Chuyện như chưa bắt đầu' (As If It Never Began). Just Be Happy carries the message that when you're feeling exhausted, you should talk to your friends about what's weighing on you, hang in there a little longer, and things will get better. As If It Never Began encourages us to let go of the past as if it never happened, keep what truly matters, and leave the rest behind."

Like T.D., patient D.K. (47, from Vinh Long Province) also has a deep passion for music. Whether during therapy sessions or at music programs organized by the hospital, he eagerly takes part, performing songs about love for his homeland, country, and family, and even playing the melodion, earning warm applause from fellow psychiatric patients, doctors, and nurses.

He shared that thanks to the care and help of doctors and nurses, and the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities and practice performing arts, he found that his illness had improved significantly. Previously, K. suffered from delusions, sleeping only one to two hours a night. After treatment, especially through music therapy, he eats and sleeps well.

Music erases all distances

Recently, People's Artist Ta Minh Tam, former Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, visited the hospital to sing for patients. He noted: "Many people think psychiatric patients are somehow 'intense.' But after meeting them, hearing them sing, watching their performances, and feeling their warm encouragement, I realized they are lovable, life-affirming people with a passion for art. Seeing them perform gave me new musical inspiration as well."

People's Artist Ta Minh Tam praised the Board of Directors of Central Psychiatric Hospital 2, doctors, and technicians for effectively applying music to accelerate patients' recovery. He noted: "I'm always ready to contribute my efforts to useful work in life, including activities to bring music to patients being treated in hospitals, including mental patients. Those moments make life truly worthwhile".

Central Psychiatric Hospital 2 is treating nearly 1,000 inpatients. Among the therapies for rehabilitating people with a mental health condition, music is being used very effectively

Having worked with the hospital for nearly 20 years, Master, singer Nguyen Ngoc Khoa, lecturer at Dong Nai College of Culture and Arts, said: "I have been immersed in professional music since the age of 20, and now it has been more than 30 years, including many years working with mental patients. I love music and find it even more meaningful as one of the treatment methods for mental patients. Thanks to music, patients move from unconsciousness to recovering emotions and returning to normal life. I feel happy watching them perform with instruments ranging from simple to complex. We owe much gratitude to the doctors and technicians for using music so effectively."

Singer Nhung Rita (Ho Chi Minh City), who has also brought music to psychiatric patients, shared: "For every artist, the audience is very important. They are our invaluable source of inspiration for the artist to create art. When performing on stage and receiving enthusiastic applause from psychiatric patients, I felt immense joy. Music truly erased every barrier between people."

By: Hanh Dung

Translated by: Thuy Trang - Minho