Music - a "healing" therapy for mental patients

A piano practice session for mental patients at the Rehabilitation Department, Central Psychiatric Hospital 2. Photo: H. Dung

All the patients sat in their chairs very neatly and orderly, attentively watching Mr. Thanh's every hand movement and tapping the beat when it came to their notes.

Special artists

Mr. Thanh said that Trong Com was not the first song he taught to mental patients. During his 31 years working at the hospital, he taught thousands of patients hundreds of different songs.

Talking about the opportunity to come to his current job, Mr. Thanh confided that when the Rehabilitation Department was first established, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Tho (Hospital Director from 1999 to 2010) selected doctors, technicians, and staff with musical talent to work in the department, including Mr. Thanh. They used music as an effective therapy to “heal” mental patients.

“We treat patients like normal people, teaching them to sing, play instruments, and dance. Music has great power, helping us connect, correct patient behavior, and help patients have fun and relax,” said Mr. Thanh.

After more than 1 hour of practicing the Trong Com song, patient D.TTL, living in Ho Chi Minh City, boasted: “The other day, I participated in a melodica performance of the song Giai Melo To Quoc at the 110th anniversary of the hospital. Standing in front of many people, I was not nervous, confidently playing the whole song according to the instructions. As for the Trong Com song, I have almost memorized it. Technician Thanh taught very enthusiastically, we practiced the music very happily, feeling more relaxed and happy.”

In Vietnam, music was first considered as a therapy for mental patients in the 1970s. Military Hospital 103 (under the Military Medical University) was the first unit to apply this therapy. Through music, patients will reduce stress and anxiety, gradually regaining joy in life.

L. is a patient suffering from postpartum depression due to her husband's infidelity. Because of boredom, L. does not sleep, only covers herself with a blanket, and does not talk to anyone. More than a year ago, L. was taken by her family to the Central Psychiatric Hospital 2 for treatment. Thanks to the dedicated care of the medical staff, along with taking medication regularly and participating in music therapy, L. is now much more alert and can help the medical staff with some tasks. L. hopes that her illness will go away soon so that she can return home soon.

Patient MTĐ., residing in Binh Duong province, also suffered psychological shock leading to depression due to being betrayed in love. Before getting sick, Đ. was an active, sociable, and dynamic teacher. When she got sick, Đ. became self-conscious, did not want to talk to anyone, and had unusual thoughts and actions.

After 5 years of treatment at the Bien Hoa Central Forensic Psychiatric Institute, D. was transferred to the Central Psychiatric Hospital 2. Every time he learned music, D. felt happier, more excited, more comfortable, and more optimistic.

Music connects souls

Every day from 8-9am, with an organ, technician Nguyen Phi Dung transforms into a musician, going to the hospital departments to play for patients to sing. This is the most anticipated leisure time of the day for many patients.

After a patient finished performing the song Nho Anh, Mr. NAD.K., 47 years old, residing in Vinh Long province (currently being treated at the Department of Emotional Disorders) volunteered to register with Mr. Dung to sing the song Chan Que. On stage with about 70 spectators (mental patients and medical staff in the department), Mr. K. confidently performed, clearly remembering the lyrics, and playing the music correctly. Encouraged by the applause of the audience, Mr. K. became even more excited and confident.

Mr. K. confided that nearly 20 years ago, he suddenly suffered from insomnia, paranoia, always heard voices in his head, left home to wander, and suffered from both physical and mental breakdown. Five years ago, Mr. K. was transferred by his family from a hospital in Tien Giang to the Central Psychiatric Hospital 2 for treatment.

“Here, the ladies and gentlemen take good care of me. I am taught to sing, play the piano, practice yoga, and work. What I like most is singing because every time I perform on stage, I feel very happy. Now I can sleep, I no longer have delusions, and I really want to go home,” Mr. K. shared.

According to technician Nguyen Phi Dung, music has a magical power, helping to connect millions of souls. When singing, patients can express their emotions, when happy they laugh, when sad they cry, recovering a lot of memory. Because to sing a song, patients are required to remember the lyrics and the melody. There are people who never laugh or speak for a very long time, but when exposed to music and singing, they are very happy. Once they have sung a song, they will continue to register to sing again the following days.

Mr. Phi Dung said: “Through each song, the patient's emotions are revealed, it can be missing family, missing parents, wife/husband, children, or it can also be love for homeland, country, friends... If that morning they participate in a fun game, then that whole day they will also be happy.”

It can be said that music is an indispensable catalyst to help life become sublime, and is also a precious "medicine" to help soothe the pain in the soul. Using music as a therapy to "heal" mental injuries has helped many mental patients quickly stabilize their emotions, and be able to return to their families and normal life.

Hanh Dung

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202503/am-nhac-lieu-phap-chua-lanh-cho-benh-nhan-tam-than-9652624/