PODCAST [35] How singing and songwriting can help new mums experiencing mental health problems – Penny Osmond, workshop and choir leader

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Introduction

In this episode, I talk with Penny Osmond, workshop and choir leader, about her singing work with new mums who have perinatal mental health disorders. We discuss the first randomised control research in this area, led by Professors Rosie Perkins and Daisy Fancourt, which found that singing could relieve moderate to severe post-natal depression at double the rate of control groups. We also hear about Penny’s wider music and perinatal mental health programmes including Songs from Home – addressing social isolation in new mums through online songwriting, and Music at Heart, singing with mothers referred through a hospital.

You can listen now below, or on Spotify (search for the name) and iTunes or your favourite podcast app.

Listen to the podcast

What’s in this episode?

We talk about:

  • Post natal depression: what it is, how many people it affects, and which groups it affects
  • What the randomised control trial involved, and the results of the research, and how the work has developed since including …
  • Online songwriting work with new mums who self-referred through the Happyity app
  • Continued research with the Royal College of Music and Imperial College Centre for Performance Science
  • Work with Creative Futures and St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington

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