Hitting the right note for child and adolescent mental and emotional wellbeing: a formative qualitative evaluation of Sistema Scotland’s “Big Noise” orchestral programme
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-11-2015-0047 |
| Pages | 25-36 |
| Published date | 21 March 2016 |
| Date | 21 March 2016 |
| Author | Christopher Harkins,Lisa Garnham,Aileen Campbell,Carol Tannahill |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Public mental health |
Hitting the right note for child and
adolescent mental and emotional
wellbeing: a formative qualitative
evaluation of Sistema Scotland’s
“Big Noise”orchestral programme
Christopher Harkins, Lisa Garnham, Aileen Campbell and Carol Tannahill
Christopher Harkins is Senior
Public Health Research
Specialist at Glasgow Centre
for Population Health,
Glasgow, UK. Lisa Garnham is
Public Health Research
Specialist at Glasgow Centre
for Population Health,
Glasgow, UK.
Aileen Campbell is Auditor at
Performance and Best Value,
Audit Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
Carol Tannahill is based at
Glasgow Centre for Population
Health, Glasgow, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –Previous research emphasises the need for preventative interventions to reduce mental health
problems among disadvantaged children and adolescents. There is however little consensus concerning the
delivery and impacts of such interventions particularly non-clinical, arts-based models delivered within
community settings. The purpose of this paper is to begin to address this deficit through a qualitative
assessment of the short- to medium-term impacts to participants’mental and emotional wellbeing within
Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise orchestral programme.
Design/methodology/approach –Semi-structured interviews, observation, participant drawing exercise,
participatory filmmaking, focus group and analysis of programme engagement were undertaken to examine
the mental and emotional wellbeing impacts of the programme which are observable at this early stage of
programme delivery and participants’lives.
Findings –The qualitative findings indicate that participation in the Big Noise programme enhances
participant mental and emotional wellbeing in three ways; first, the happiness and enjoyment of taking part in
the programme and orchestra, particularly from music making; second, the security, belonging and
relationships fostered through participation; the quality of musician/participant relationship is important here
as is programme design which enables support, routine and structure; and third, increased pride, confidence
and self-esteem, as a result of acquiring difficult musical skills, receiving regular praise and having frequent
opportunities to demonstrate these acquired skills through regular orchestral performances.
Originality/value –There is little evidence or understanding of community-based, preventative, arts interventions
like Big Noise: their delivery, their life-course impacts and their potential contribution to mental health and to
addressing social and health inequalities. The causal pathways in the field are under-theorised. These early findings
are important as they serve as an important basis from which to consider the programme’s wider and longer term
impacts, which will be assessed through an on-going longitudinal, mixed method summative evaluation.
Keywords Health inequalities, Early intervention, Child and adolescent mental health,
Arts-based approaches, Preventative approaches, Sistema Scotland
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Sistema Scotland is a charity on a mission to transform lives through music. Through its Big
Noise programme Sistema Scotland believes that children from disadvantaged backgrounds
can gain significant social and wellbeing benefits and acquire a range of life skills by playing in a
Received 2 November 2015
Revised 12 January 2016
20 January 2016
Accepted 22 January 2016
The authors would like to
acknowledge the staff at Sistema
Scotland and Big Noise for
contributing their time and
energy to this study.
DOI 10.1108/JPMH-11-2015-0047 VOL. 15 NO. 1 2016, pp. 25-36, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-5729
j
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTALHEALTH
j
PAG E 25
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