Community music and interpersonal functioning amongst people with complex mental health needs

Section A is a critical review of empirical literature pertinent to the impact of community music projects (CMPs) on the interpersonal functioning of those with complex mental health needs living in the community.
Section B presents a qualitative study exploring the interpersonal experiences of ten outpatients with complex mental health needs participating in a CMP.
Background: Although participation in CMPs has been associated with improved interpersonal function amongst clinical and non-clinical populations their effects on outpatients with complex mental health needs are not clearly understood.
Aims: The current study aimed to explore how outpatients with complex mental health needs experience, perceive, understand and respond to interpersonal interactions whilst participating in a CMP.
Method: Participants included 10 outpatients with complex mental health needs, who had attended a CMP for at least 6 months. They completed a semi-structured interview concerning interpersonal experiences and the project’s impact (if any) on such experiences. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was utilised (Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 2009).
Results: Interpersonal experiences of participants were conceptualised as master themes involving hope for social interaction, non-musical interpersonal experience, musical interpersonal experience, wider community experience, belonging, esteem and positive identity.
Conclusion: Interpersonal learning, bridging capital and the development of self-concept components may be experienced in relation to CMP participation. The importance of social context assessment to client formulations and interventions and the need for further longitudinal, qualitative research in this area is implicated.