MINDY PETERSON, NCTM

Photo by Mark Luis on Unsplash

The mental health and levels of depression among young people are significant concerns right now. When we’re sad, our music listening time can double – but are our music choices making us feel better or worse? Dr. Sandra Garrido explores the complex relationship between music and depression and how music can be used intentionally to help young people understand and regulate their emotions, including through MoodyTunes, her free app designed to support youth mental health through music.

Guest

My guest today is Dr. Sandra Garrido, an award-winning researcher at The University of Sydney and Western Sydney University whose work explores the fascinating relationship between music and depression. She has a background in both music and psychology, and is the creator of MoodyTunes, an app that helps young people understand and regulate their emotions and mental health with music. She’s also a pianist, violinist, and author.

Notes

We discuss:

• The growing mental health crisis among young people, including the prevalence and impact of depression in adolescents and young adults
• How young people use music to cope with difficult emotions, and how music can help – or potentially worsen – depression and negative emotions
• The difference between using sad music for emotional processing and listening patterns that may contribute to rumination
• What research reveals about the connection between music, mood, depression, and emotional regulation
• Dr. Sandra Garrido’s research on music and mental health in young people and what she has learned from studying this relationship
• The development of MoodyTunes, a free app designed to help young people understand how music affects their mood and develop greater mental-health literacy
• The potential for music to become a gateway to mental-health awareness, emotional self-regulation, and help-seeking for young people struggling with depression

Connect/Other Resources

• MoodyTunes website
• Learn more about Dr. Garrido’s work at The University of Sydney, Western Sydney University and their MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development
• Connect with Sandra on LinkedIn 
• Books by Dr. Garrido include:
  • Why Are We Attracted to Sad Music?
  • Music and Dementia: Theory and Implications for Music Use in Dementia Care
  • Music, Nostalgia and Memory: Historical and Psychological Perspectives
  • [Chapter 20] The Oxford Handbook of Well-Being in Higher Education

Other episodes we mentioned or that you may enjoy:

• Ep. 205: Music as a Tool for Suicide Awareness, Prevention, and Intervention; with Bryan Kohl
• Ep. 88: It Hurts So Good: When and why is sad music enjoyed? With Kimberly Sena Moore, PhD, MT-BC
• Ep. 223: The Science of Burnout & the Musical Tools That Heal It; with Amelia Nagoski, DMA
• View all episodes related to Science & Health

In-Episode Promo

LIVING WELL WITH DR. MICHELLE: If you’ve listened to this podcast for long, you know that, in addition to being passionate about music, I am also passionate about natural health and wellbeing. So I was intrigued to learn about an all-natural toothpaste developed by a biologic, holistic dentist to effectively clean and protect teeth and strengthen enamel without fluoride or the many chemicals that are ubiquitous in the commercial toothpastes that I’ve always used without a second thought. What really caught my attention was that one of these dentist’s products was specially formulated for sensitive teeth, which I have thanks to gum recession. I was a little skeptical that an all-natural product would provide adequate sensitivity protection, but after trying it for several months, I am a fan. What clinched the deal was going to my 6-month dental cleaning and having my hygienist rave about the whiteness of my teeth. To learn more about the Living Well Sensitive Tooth Powder and other products – and get 10% off your order – check out the link in the show notes (or use Coupon Code: musicenhances10 at livingwellwithdrmichelle.com). (Or buy on Amazon.)

Coda

Beyond the MoodyTunes tool, Dr. Garrido shares a powerful final takeaway on increasing our own self awareness about the impact our consumption is having on our mood so that we can take back control over the algorithms.

Closing Words

Thanks so much to Dr. Garrido for that challenge for all of us – and for all she does to enhance lives with music through her research, teaching, writing, speaking, and creation of the MoodyTunes app.

If you know of someone who would enjoy this episode, please share it with them! It’s one of the best ways to help us reach new listeners and spread the transforming power of music in everyday life.

You can always connect with me on email (mindy@mpetersonmusic.com), Facebook, Instagram, X, or LinkedIn; and by signing up for my occasional e-Newsletter.

Thank you so much for joining me today. Until next time, may your life be enhanced with music.

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