From beats to balance: Exploring music’s role in supporting mental health
By Megan Groves
Every year, millions of people in the United States struggle with their mental health. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 22.8% of Americans were affected by mental health issues in 2021. When it comes to mental health struggles, there are various tools and strategies that can help people cope. An often forgotten resource, music, has been linked to mental health benefits, due to its ability to reduce anxiety, stress levels and depression.
In a study by NeuroImage, researchers found that music activates the auditory cortex, and when activated, the auditory cortex synchronizes with other regions of the brain that affect emotion. This means that music can have an effect on our emotions.
According to Harvard Health, “Music listeners had higher scores for mental well-being and slightly reduced levels of anxiety and depression compared to people overall. Active musical engagement, including those over age 50, was associated with higher rates of happiness and good cognitive function. Adults with no early music exposure but who currently engage in some music appreciation show above average mental well-being scores.”
Through music therapy, people can use music to positively impact their mental health.
Licensed Professional Music Therapist Sarah McCollough is on the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board.
“Music’s a natural motivator so music kind of provides some of that motivation for change; if it’s change in mood, change in emotion, even if it’s encouragement to get up and do something… Music also just provides comfort. I think there’s a lot of comfort in music especially when it comes to emotions and mental health,” McCollough said.
Music can aid people with their well-being and drive them to complete daily tasks. With the stress of college and young adult life, students can turn to music to help cope with stress and mental health issues.
Shawn Starcher is an assistant professor of communication at Muskingum University and the advisor for the campus Active Minds chapter. Active Minds is a national mental health awareness club.
“It's a good strategy because we always have the ability to tap into music. We can access any type of music that we want on our phones, whether it be through Apple Music, YouTube, or other streaming services. As long as you have a phone with wi-fi then the resources are typically free,” Starcher said.
Music is a widely accessible resource and can be utilized in many ways, whether through listening, writing or performance.
“It’s [music] has helped a lot in a lot of different ways because when I was dealing with mental health in high school I listened to a lot of music. That helped a lot to connect with the emotion of the song, the lyrics, understanding the pain and suffering like you’re not alone. Also, on the other side, I do perform in music which adds its own layer because it’s not only there are other people who can relate to music through actual lyrics, but now you’re in an aspect where it’s not about the lyrics. It’s literally about what you are creating surrounded by a bunch of different people and you can actually put your own emotion into what you’re creating,” said Darci Robinson, Muskingum University Music Education alumnus.
The therapeutic power of music is not only about personal connection or performance; it can also be a pathway for healing and growth in a more structured, therapeutic setting. As Robinson reflects on the emotional support she found in music, McCollough highlights the accessibility of music therapy, emphasizing that you don’t need to be a musician to benefit from its transformative effects. Whether through personal expression or professional guidance, music offers a universal language for emotional connection and healing.
“Music therapy can be appropriate for anyone. I think it’s important to know you don’t have to be a musician, you don’t have to know to read music to be active in music therapy. I think one of the most important things when coming into a music therapy session is to be open minded,” McCollough said.
Music therapy is one of many options when it comes to coping with stress and mental health issues. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, there are resources available:
Muskingum University Counseling Services: counseling@muskingum.edu
Muskingum Behavioral Health: (740)454-1266
Allwell Behavioral Health Services: Cambridge: (740)439-4428, Zanesville: (740)-454-9766
National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988
