Enhancing the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers through music interventions
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Enhancing the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers through music interventions

Tiago Horta Reis da Silva Lecturer in nursing education, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King’s College London, London, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To understand the reasons why refugees and asylum seekers may be prone to mental health issues

  • To be aware of the potential mental health benefits of music interventions for refugees and asylum seekers

  • To consider how you could support the implementation of music interventions in community nursing practice

Refugees and asylum seekers often experience significant mental health issues due to the adverse conditions and traumatic events they have been exposed to in their country of origin and during their journey to safety. Additionally, in the country where they have sought refuge, factors such as uncertainty about their status, language barriers, prejudice, stigmatisation and discrimination may compound their psychological distress and mental health issues. Enhancing their mental health requires tailored and innovative therapeutic interventions that address the specific challenges they may encounter and consider their cultural background. Music interventions have emerged as a promising method of promoting mental health and well-being in these vulnerable population groups. This article discusses how the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers can be enhanced by music interventions and how mental health nurses working in community settings can contribute towards achieving this.

Mental Health Practice. doi: 10.7748/mhp.2024.1717

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

@tiago_uni

Correspondence

Tiago.horta_reis_da_silva@kcl.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Reis da Silva TH (2024) Enhancing the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers through music interventions. Mental Health Practice. doi: 10.7748/mhp.2024.1717

Published online: 22 October 2024

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