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
Links for this episode
Music and Motherhood randomized control study, Royal College of Music and Imperial College Centre for Performance Science
Spitalfields Music Trainee Music Leader Scheme
Songs from Home – research available soon
Creative Futures – Music at Heart
Music for education & wellbeing podcast [35] TRANSCRIPT: Penny Osmond, workshop and choir leader
More information, help and resources
IF YOU’VE FOUND THIS USEFUL, SIGN UP FOR MY ENEWS AND GET FREE RESOURCES.
As a thank you, you’ll also get six tip sheets, templates and checklists for: communications planning, getting more traffic to your website, copywriting, blogging and annual reports. You’ll also receive an occasional digest of my blogs, plus tips, advice and signposting to useful information and resources.
Need some help with a particular aspect of your communications, or your communications strategy? Contact me.

