Music: A Medicine for Mental Health

 Music: A Medicine for Mental Health

It is noted that music helps reduce mental stress, anxiety, and depression, while also balancing dopamine and serotonin levels.

Music is a synthesis of singing, playing instruments, and dance—methods used to express human emotions, thoughts, and sensations through sound. It is not merely a source of entertainment; rather, it is a universal language of the universe that requires no words or grammar to be understood.

A simple melody can bring profound peace. By balancing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in the brain, music helps to naturally alleviate mental stress, anxiety, and depression. From a medical perspective, therefore, music serves as both a powerful medicine and a form of exercise for mental health.

Researchers at the University of Helsinki in Finland conducted a study in which the nursery rhyme "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star..." was played for pregnant mothers five times a week, starting three months before the baby's birth. The study continued until the child reached the age of four months.

It was observed that the brain activity of infants who had been exposed to the song was significantly higher compared to those who had not. This finding confirmed that long-term memories can be formed within an infant's brain.

Research indicates that a fetus's sense of hearing develops between the 20th and 24th week of gestation, enabling the baby to begin recognizing external sounds or melodies. Researchers at the University of Leicester in the UK have also conducted several studies on this subject.

The Use of Music in Mental Health

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, people turned to music to help keep themselves calm. Dr. David Silbersweig, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard University (USA), concluded that music was widely embraced as a helpful tool while people faced the intense stress and trauma brought on by the pandemic.

The Second World War served as a pivotal turning point in modern history, establishing ‘music therapy’ as a professional and scientific treatment method. At that time, music was extensively utilized to support the mental well-being of millions of soldiers who had suffered severe psychological trauma.

In military hospitals—where traumatized and wounded soldiers returning from the battlefield were treated—local ‘volunteer musicians’ would visit to perform music.

This initiative, originally intended to provide entertainment and boost morale, led to remarkable clinical improvements.

Listening to music reduced the soldiers' mental stress, decreased instances of crying or distressed outbursts, and even accelerated the healing of their physical wounds. Consequently, the U.S. War Department issued ‘Technical Bulletin 187,’ which mandated the inclusion of music in the mental and physical rehabilitation of soldiers.

In Nepal, too, ‘music therapy’ is currently being used in the treatment of individuals experiencing depression, psychological trauma, and delays in mental or psychosocial development. In developed countries, music is integrated into psychiatric hospitals as an essential component of the care system.

Emergency rooms and wards in these psychiatric facilities are equipped with sound systems that play soothing natural melodies and classical music—characterized by a tempo of 60 to 80 beats per minute (BPM)—around the clock. Studies have demonstrated that this practice helps reduce aggressive behavior and anxiety in admitted patients by up to 25 percent, even without the use of medication.

How should one listen to music for mental well-being?

Authentic music rooted in the Nepali tradition possesses a remarkable capacity to alleviate mental stress and calm the mind. According to research from Harvard University and principles aligned with ISO standards, musical melodies are highly effective at soothing the nervous system and refreshing one's mood.

To provide the brain with deep rest, instrumental Nepali classical or contemporary melodies—played at a tempo of 60 to 80 beats per minute—are particularly effective. This includes the sound of the *bansuri* (flute); its melody can instantly calm the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for triggering fear and anxiety. Meanwhile, the gentle, melodic tones of the *sarangi* and *sitar* are highly effective at lowering levels of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone.

Furthermore, *bhajans* (devotional songs), *ghazals*, and slow-tempo contemporary Nepali music—such as those performed by singers like Narayan Gopal and Bhaktaraj Acharya—can also help in fostering mental focus and concentration. However, when you feel a lack of energy, faster-paced music can help energize the mind and trigger the release of dopamine. The vibrations of the *madal* (drum) can invigorate your heartbeat, while the rhythms of the Newari *dhime*, Tamang *damphu*, or *maruni* music activate the brain’s "reward center," helping to dispel feelings of despondency.

Patriotic or inspirational songs by bands like Nepathya, 1974 AD, and Albatross can instantly boost self-confidence and mental energy. Similarly, *bhajan-kirtan* (devotional songs) and spiritual music contain a powerful form of social and psychological therapy.

What kind of music should you listen to, and when?

You should choose musical elements—instruments or genres—based on the time, your current state, and the situation. For instance, listening to *bhajans* (devotional songs) or the melody of a flute—aligned with your cultural traditions—immediately upon waking can help cultivate positive emotions.

When you are stressed, you should listen to faster-paced music that resonates with your current mood. However, as your mood begins to settle and calm down, the tempo of the music should also be gradually reduced. In other words, as your stress levels decrease, you might transition to the soothing melodies of a flute or a *sarangi*... ...should make a ‘shift.’ Music can truly be used as medicine. By selecting and listening to appropriate music based on one’s current state, one can find relief from stress more quickly.

Does someone who dislikes music have a mental health issue?

Disliking music could simply be a matter of personal preference. About 3 to 5 percent of the world's population are wired in such a way that music has no effect on them. There is a weakness in the communication between the part of their brain that processes music—the ‘auditory cortex’—and the part that registers pleasure—the ‘reward center.’ Such individuals are perfectly healthy and intelligent; it is just that music does not significantly impact them.

Furthermore, not everyone shares the same interests. Some people may derive more joy from reading books, playing sports, spending time in beautiful natural surroundings, or creating art than from listening to music. These individuals find ways to calm their minds and relieve stress through means other than music.

However, if someone who once loved music suddenly finds listening to it annoying or irritating—or if they stop deriving pleasure from anything at all—this could be a sign of depression or extreme mental stress. In medical science, this condition is known as ‘anhedonia’—an inability to experience pleasure.

On the other hand, some people experience intense anger, agitation, or increased mental stress when exposed to specific sounds—such as music, the sound of someone chewing, or the knocking on a door. This, however, is a mental health issue. This is known as ‘misophonia.’ Individuals experiencing such conditions should seek mandatory counseling and therapy.

**Lack of Policy Framework in Nepal**

Although the ‘National Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan,’ issued by the Ministry of Health and Population of the Government of Nepal in 2077 BS (2020/21), does not explicitly mention ‘music therapy,’ it does acknowledge the scope of non-pharmacological treatments. It appears to accept methods such as music therapy, art therapy, and meditation for mental health treatment.

Similarly, the ‘Act Relating to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,’ enacted in 2074 BS (2017/18), ensures the rights to rehabilitation, social security, and recreation. The policy provides legitimacy for conducting recreational and creative activities in mental hospitals and rehabilitation centers to foster the mental well-being of patients.

**What Should Be Done Next?**

World Mental Health Day is observed globally every year on October 10. This year, the day is being marked with the primary objective of listening to the voices of individuals who have personally experienced mental health challenges and ensuring their meaningful participation.

On this occasion, the Government of Nepal should not delay in formally regulating—through legal frameworks—the innovative methods emerging for mental health treatment, following extensive community-level dialogue regarding their efficacy. Furthermore, to ensure that mental health services are as accessible to citizens as basic healthcare, a position for at least one psychologist should be established at every local government level. If the Government of Nepal were to conduct further study and research into the observed effects of music therapy and establish a dedicated set of guidelines for it, this would undoubtedly represent a significant step toward addressing mental health issues.