Where words fail, music speaks: the impact of participatory music on the mental health and wellbeing of asylum seekers

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Lenette, Caroline
Weston, Donna
Wise, Patricia
Sunderland, Naomi
Bristed, Helen
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2016
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Abstract

There is growing evidence that participatory music can be supportive and empowering for marginalised, culturally diverse populations. Amid largely hostile reception of asylum seekers in Australia, a group of music facilitators regularly attends an Immigration Transit Accommodation facility to share music and singing activities with detained asylum seekers, to counter significant mental and emotional distress resulting from indefinite detention. Methods This paper outlines the key themes of a narrative analysis, from a health and wellbeing perspective, of music facilitators' monthly written observations recorded in 2012. Results By drawing on examples from observational narratives, we outline a framework that suggests links between music and singing, and the health and wellbeing of detained asylum seekers. The framework includes four intertwined concepts: (1) Humanisation, (2) Community, (3) Resilience, and (4) Agency. Conclusions The framework suggests the potential for participatory music to counter the significant impact of traumatic experiences and detention on asylum seekers' health and wellbeing.

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Arts & Health

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8

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2

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Health services and systems

Public health

Creative and professional writing

Music therapy

Creative arts and writing

Health sciences

Asylum seekers

Music

Singing

Detention

Health and wellbeing

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