Community music as a vehicle for tackling mental health-related stigma

Abstract

This paper seeks to highlight some of the key issues of the social stigma associated with mental health-related issues, to present examples of some existing anti-stigma concepts found within mental health literature and, in turn, to begin to suggest ways in which the personal and social experience of participation within community music activities may provide a means of challenging and resisting such stigma. The research involved a literature review of existing theoretical concepts surrounding mental health stigma interventions and sought to link such concepts with examples from community music and music sociology, examining concepts such as identity construction, removal and refurbishment activities and tachytopian experiences. The work of the Me2/Orchestra (Vermont, USA) is presented as a case study, with use of some supporting preliminary interview data. While hypothetical in nature at present, the article discusses the potential of community music for addressing and erasing mental health stigma.