The Role of Music in Mental Health Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the mental health situation globally, and the demand for effective intervention methods based on accessibility and innovation appears. Music therapy stands out as one of them as an important form of auxiliary therapy to alleviate psychological distress induced by the long-term isolation and uncertainty together with pain inflicting disruptions to the healthcare system. The present article discusses in critical manner the possible role of music in mental health care in the pandemic based on the interdiscipline literature, expert opinions, and case studies in different socio-cultural settings. It addresses the benefits that formal music therapy treatment as well as informal music experiences (e.g. virtual concerts, curated playlists and self-led listening) had on maintaining emotional control, building social intimacy, and promoting mental resilience. The paper also evaluates the efficacy, constraints, and the availability of the digital music therapy services, particularly among underserved communities. In bringing together the empirical evidence and the theoretical approach, the article shows the importance of the timelessly significant music as a form of a mental health intervention with a low cost, scalability, and adaptability to the cultures. These results represent the necessity of including the music-based approaches into the public health systems and support the need to conduct additional studies to evaluate the long-term effects of music guidance on psychological well-being in post-pandemic recovery programs.