How Sing Australia's choir collective helps to improve mental health and wellbeing in regional communities

Can singing in a choir improve your mental health? 

This was the question Dubbo farmer Steve Aughey asked when he joined Sing Australia, a national collective of community choir groups.

Years of drought, divorce, and a mouse plague had taken its toll.

"Once you start singing, the notes take over your problems," Mr Aughey said.

"The important thing was it had no audition; that was my social start in Dubbo."

Steve Aughey says joining a choir helped him through a rough patch in his life. (Stillone Media: Joel Stillone)

There is plethora of research to show that pairing music and lived experience opens up a range of opportunities to process grief and difficult emotions.

The University of Melbourne's head of music therapy, Professor Katrina Skewes McFerran, says that singing as part of a group is key.

"Singing together as a choir is quite different to any benefits that you may experience from singing on your own," she said.

In fact, the neurochemicals released in the brain while singing in a group are reminiscent of the experience of falling in love.

"Singing does give you a good buzz and I'm certainly not very flash at it, but I enjoy it," Mr Aughey said.

Sing Australia comprises a national collective of choirs. (Stillone Media: Joel Stillone)

A key element of Sing Australia's mission is to include everyone.

Michele Peak is the leader of Sing Australia's Dubbo chapter and encourages anyone to join in, regardless of their ability.

"If you can talk, then you can sing," Ms Peak said. 

There are many health benefits from singing for you mental and physical wellbeing.  (Stillone Media: Joel Stillone)

The conductor of Sing Australia Dubbo, Bob Lloyd, was amazed at how much his mental health improved being a part of a singing group.

"I had a number of medical ailments as well as anxiety and depression.

"I found Sing Australia as an outlet to help me feel a part of a group and also to just let go and feel a bit silly at times."

Sing Australia Dubbo encourages anyone to join them. (Stillone Media: Joel Stillone)

For Steve Aughey, the weekly Monday night catch-ups are also a good opportunity to get off the farm, relax, and have a yarn.

"Everyone supports each other if they're going through a rough patch," he said.

"They're a good group; it is just like a family." 

This small documentary is part of an impact campaign, connected to the ABC six-part series Space 22, that aims to connect people with accessible creative exercises and programs to improve mental wellbeing.

For more information on the many different ways people can connect to art and creativity for wellbeing, go to https://abc.net.au/space22create 

To watch the series of Space 22, head here