Hong Kong promotes music therapy for mental illness
( 2003-12-30 11:36) (People's Daily)
Music Therapy was held on
Monday at the head office of Hong Kong New Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Association.
The theme of the activity was to deliver the message of how music can help
maintain, regenerate and reinforce a healthy lifestyle through music sharing and
performance.
In the fast pace of daily life, most people in Hong Kong are mentally and
physically over stressed by their busy lifestyle. The lack of sufficient
handling will prolong the day stress. According to an expert of the New
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, a latest survey shows over 10 percent of
city dwellers are suffering from mood disorder. The worst case will even become
serious stress problem such as mental disorder.
Chief Executive Officer of New Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association Deborah
Wan said that one of every 10 Hong Kong peoplehas got mood disorder or even
mental disorder. She stressed that it is important that people with mental
illness face up to the problem and consult the doctor as soon as possible.
Music therapist Chan Mei Yuk said that the application of music therapy can
help improve social and communication skills as well as a person's mood through
music and music activity. She pointed out that listening to music, with the
combination of simple movement like taking a deep breath, can help reduce stress
hormone and boost the immunity function. She suggested everyone to spend 20 to
30 minutes a day to relax by listening to adequate music under fine room
temperature and smooth lighting.
Hong Kong leading artist Gigi Leung and leading musician RonaldNg were also
invited to join the activity to share their experience of soothing stress and
renewing soul with music. Together with a band formed by 10 odd recovered mental
patients, they played a splendid live music show by using African drums,
chopsticks, glass bottles and aluminum cans as musical instruments.
Music Therapy is one of the activities of the OSIM Healthy City Program,
co-organized by OSIM (HK) Company Limited and Hong Kong Commercial Radio, which
aims at promoting a healthy city and arousing public awareness about community
health issues in Hong Kong.
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