The Feel-Good Factor: the power of singing to improve mental health.

Jackie Speight
Oct 8
3 min read

Have you ever noticed how singing makes you feel? That ‘buzz’ when you’re belting out the lead vocal along with your favourite band in your car? The amazing feeling when you’re singing along at the top of your voice with the crowd at a concert?

The power of music to influence our mood is something we generally recognise. As it turns out, when we actually SING rather than just listen, it’s even more powerful!

I notice this personally whenever I sing with Women Rockin’ Harmony Choirs®, whether we’re rehearsing or performing. However I’m feeling at the start of a session, whatever stress, anxiety or tension I’m experiencing, I just feel better by the end of it. As renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli has said, ‘Singing provides a true sense of lightheartedness’, and that’s something many of us will find relatable.

There are a number of reasons why singing has this positive effect:

singing has been shown to improve happiness and our sense of wellbeing, even more than just listening to music; this is at least partly down to the fact that singing releases endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, the chemicals in our system that make us feel good;
when you’re singing, it’s almost impossible to think about anything else – giving your attention to the lyrics and melody of a song pretty much close your mind off to other things and give it a break from mental ‘chatter’ (I find that singing is one of the best mindfulness techniques for me);
singing helps to improve breathing – research shows that this is not only helpful for physical health, but also for mental wellbeing as deep breathing is an important way to manage stress and anxiety*;
group singing has the added benefit of providing opportunities for social interaction with people who you can be sure you share a common interest at the very least; whether you’re singing in a choir or in the audience at a concert, there’s something special about that level of connection.

Why is this so significant? Why should we be shouting (or maybe singing?) from the rooftops about the power of singing to improve mental health?

Well, statistics show that 1 in 4 people in England experience a mental health problem of some kind** - this covers many different kinds of conditions (including general anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, along with more complex diagnoses). Even if you don’t have a mental health condition as such, most people have experience times of low mood, stress and sadness, whether that’s caused by a specific situation or just the build up of ‘stuff’ in the world in general.

Whilst singing isn’t a replacement for professional support and therapy where that's needed, it is definitely an activity which can improve mental wellbeing and enhance the quality of life for people who need a boost of happiness.

So why not have go at belting out a song today? Sing along with your Spotify playlist while you’re doing the housework, make the most of the amazing acoustics in your bathroom while you sing in the shower, sign yourself up to have a go at your local karaoke night – or if you want a bit more, find a choir that you like the sound of and find out how you can join!

If you want to know more about what it means to be part of a choir, you can order a free copy of our eBook ‘Rockin’ Harmony 101- Your Guide To Becoming A Superstar Choir Member’ by clicking here.