The Healing Blues By Anita Schlank, Ph.D. The blues community has mourned too many deaths of extremely talented musicians who have died due to depression. These untimely deaths emphasize that we, as a society, need to speak more openly about mental illness and suicide. While we have come a long way since the times when suicide victims were buried with stakes driven through their hearts (to prevent their “unquiet spirits” from troubling the rest of us), there is still a stigma felt by those suffering from mental disorders that can lead to reluctance in seeking mental health treatment. Raising awareness around this topic and educating the public about available mental health treatment is particularly crucial for artists and musicians, as there appears to be a link between creativity and both mood disorders and addictions. One survey found that people in the musical community were much more likely than the general population to be diagnosed with depression, and more than twice as likely to attempt suicide. This problem can be especially relevant among blues musicians, who are less likely than classical musicians to belong to a union, or to have health insurance provided for them. In fact, Dr. Marc Brodsky (1995) surveyed blues musicians in Chicago, and found that very few could afford individual health insurance plans, and
most reported reluctance in letting others know about medical or mental health problems. In addition, touring on the road can exacerbate problems with depression or substance abuse, given the chronic lack of sleep and easy access to alcohol and other mood-altering chemicals. Luckily, these negative factors are somewhat countered by the fact that there does appear to be a healing effect to both playing and listening to blues music. Listening to and playing music can enhance well-being and reduce pain and suffering. It lowers levels of cortisol, known as the “stress hormone,” and can even improve communication among those with autism (Patel, 2005; Kemper & Danhauer, 2005; Krout, 2001). These effects might be particularly profound when it comes to the blues. The blues is often viewed as one of the most emotional genres of music, and while some may assume that listening to the blues will make a person sad, the opposite tends to be true. The reason for this is not entirely clear. Some believe it is due to the beauty that can be found in sad tones, while others believe the simplicity of the chord structure allows for increased emotional expression. Still, others assume healing comes from the catharsis of hearing blues singers speak about struggles that are similar to one’s own, much like the comfort found in 12-step meetings. These beneficial effects are increased when listening
Left to right: Anita Schlank, Mark Earley, Annika Chambers, Mike Welch, Kevin Burt and Rev. Billy C. Wirtz present a mental health panel at the 2019 Big Blues Bender. Photo by Erik Kabik
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Blues Festival Guide 2020
