Strength Through Music

From The Age:

DOCTORS should ask their teenage patients what type of music they prefer to determine if they are at risk of developing a mental illness or committing suicide, researchers say.

A study, published in today's Australasian Psychiatry journal, found that teens who listened to pop music were more likely to be struggling with their sexuality, those tuning in to rap or heavy metal could be having unprotected sex and drink-driving, and those who favoured jazz were usually misfits and loners.

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WHAT STUDIES SAY ABOUT YOUR SOUNDS:

POP: Conformists, overly responsible, role-conscious, struggling with sexuality or peer acceptance.

HEAVY METAL: Higher levels of suicidal ideation, depression, drug use, self-harm, shoplifting, vandalism, unprotected sex.

DANCE: Higher levels of drug use regardless of socio-economic background.

JAZZ/RHYTHM & BLUES: Introverted misfits, loners.

RAP: Higher levels of theft, violence, anger, street gang membership, drug use and misogyny.

Wait... depressed people listen to depressing music?

Actually, I support the idea of including music in assements of teenager's mental health. Music is important to teenagers. It stopped me going insane in high school.

But it has to be done with some subtlety. You can't make sweeping generalisations. Teenagere hate being generalised.

So, yes, ask them what sort of music they like. But then you have to ask them why they like it? How does it make them feel? Does it help them when they feel depressed/violent/whatever, or does it make thier mood worse? How does the music they listen to effect their relationships with other people?

My personal experience is that depressing music can be a comfort in the dark times, but listening to it too much can make things worse. And then it's time to break out the punk.

WKAP?

And having named my last post over one of her songs...

Can I just say how much I'm looking forward to the release of Who Killed Amanda Palmer?

I mean, I like the recent Dresden Dolls outtakes CD No, Virginia. "The Gardener" especially is dark and menacing and brilliant.

But with songs like Ampersand, Runs in the Family, The Point of it All and Strength Through Music, WKAP is looking set to be my favourite album of the year.

We'll know come September, when it gets released.

And then we cross our fingers and toes for another Speigletent show.