"At a children's centre in a housing estate in south London a group of 12 young mums sit in a circle on the floor as their babies cry, crawl and sleep on mats in front of them. But at this music class there are no bells or tambourines and no Wheels on the Bus or Baby Shark. Instead, the group work through a mix of lullabies, folk and gospel, switching from Spanish to Congolese to Swahili in rounds of four-part harmonies."
"Postnatal depression is a common problem, affecting more than one in 10 women within a year of giving birth, according to the NHS. Symptoms are wide-ranging but can include persistent sadness or low mood, problems looking after yourself, insomnia and withdrawing from other people. Melodies for Mums started in 2017 as a free weekly class in Southwark, south London, based on earlier research which suggested group singing could reduce stress and anxiety."
A three-year clinical study found specially designed group singing classes effectively treat postnatal depression and may be cost-effective for the NHS. Classes are structured with specific music selection, group size, and room setup to target symptoms. Sessions use lullabies, folk and gospel songs and include multilingual rounds in Spanish, Congolese and Swahili with four-part harmonies. Participants report increased feelings of safety and reduced anxiety after attending. Postnatal depression affects more than one in ten women within a year of childbirth and causes persistent low mood, sleep problems, self-care difficulties and social withdrawal. Melodies for Mums began in 2017 as a free weekly Southwark programme.
Read at www.bbc.com
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