A new study suggests that singing could help mothers recover from post-natal depression.
Researchers found that women participating in group singing sessions with their babies were able to overcome symptoms of post-natal depression more quickly than those who did not, the Daily Mail reported.
The new study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, examined 134 mothers with post-natal depression. Estimates say that post-natal depression affects one in eight new mothers.
Participating women were divided into three groups: one group of women received the usual care, another took part in group creative play workshops and the final group received 10 weeks of singing workshops.
The singing workshops found that mothers listened and learned new songs as well as creating new songs reflecting motherhood.
Those with moderate to severe symptoms of post-natal depression reported a much faster improvement in their symptoms than mothers in the usual care group.
All the groups improved over the 10 weeks, but in the first six weeks, the singing group had already reported an average 35% decrease in depressive symptoms.
Previous studies have indicated singing can help improve the mental health of older people and those with dementia, but this is the first controlled study of its effect on post-natal depression.
