Ukulele, Me-kulele

To offer patients a variety of options to experience music in a healthcare setting, the one who offers must have OPTIONS. When I shadowed two Artist-In-Residence professionals at Shands Hospital last summer, I noted that when they sang unaccompanied patients were less interested in the song. When they accompanied themselves with another instrument, there was greater interest. That being said, I wanted to look at other instruments to add to what I could offer as a musician in the hospital/healthcare setting. Therefore, I decided it was time to learn to play the Ukulele.

 

Having played the guitar as a younger person, the fretted instrument was not new to me; however, the tiny fretted instrument, tuned in its own fashion, was new. It will take some time just to get to know what might be played on it. Just as with the guitar, I can twist the tuning pegs to tune as directed, or tune it in other ways. The third string on this instrument is a little dull no matter what I do with it.

As I listen to the combination of notes, I realize that it takes a certain amount of strength to get a clean sound and clear pitch. I have increased appreciation for those that play this instrument. The sound of the Ukulele is soft and muted. It seems just right for the healthcare setting. The instrument has a playful quality as well due to the sound of the strings when it is plucked.  Because of its size, I can cradle it and make a really nice friend out of it.

Setting the Stage For Incubation

A large project this week will be assimilating and organizing the experiences I have had in the Creative Practice portion of a course I am taking. Graham Wallas describes one stage of creativity as being incubation. Therefore, I took off out of town for an excursion to give myself that incubation time. It was time when I was surrounded by new places, faces, and thoughts. It allowed for refreshment. It created a place or space in my mind for creative juices to begin flowing naturally on their own, not forced. Creativity must come of its own volition; and there must be time and space.

While in Chattanooga, I did write two poems in response to some of my activities.



Chattanooga Visit

A little drink, a little food . . .

Compliments and laughter,

Delight in seeing old friends,

But why the curious hedging?

Tales of children, stories of work,

Loss of parents and more,

But for visits in the future?

All with sincerity pledging!

 

 

Patriotism or Ambition

On Lookout Mountain

They brought the guns

While Longstreet held the left flank.

The enemy advancing,

Though three miles away,

Was on the other bank.

When they tried some cannons
The power was wet,
Other men ran from the shiver.
The blasts were mighty,
They looked for results,
But balls never cleared the river!

 

World Mental Health Day

Thanks to First Lady, Rosalynn Carter, the Carter Center has taken a very strong stance to advocate for the mental health issues too long ignored in the Unites States. Their website has a full discussion going about the subject. Here you will see a couple of comments. (http://blog.cartercenter.org/2013/10/07/join-our-conversation-on-world-mental-health-day-oct-10-2013/)

2 Comments

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1. 1
   World Mental Health Day Blog Party, October 10, 2013 | World Mental Health Day on October 9, 2013 at 4:08 pm

   […] Join Our Conversation on World Mental Health Day, Oct. 10, 2013 The Carter Center’s Mental Health Program […]
2. 2
   Gabriel Lungu on October 10, 2013 at 9:00 am

   Indeed there is need to fight stigma and discrimination against the mentally ill but this hasn’t been easy. Am a psychiatric nurse and i have dedicated time interest in making the community be aware of mental health/illness issues. They problem I have noticed is that there is little or no government support in mental health sector. Also the limited Media access and coverage on mental health issues. In addition to that NGO have channelled their interest and investiment in other general health matter neglecting mental health which is even more disabling. I believe media coverage and adequate resource allocation can help.

3

Barbara on October 10, 2013 at 9:34 am

I believe that my community could help reduce myths and misperceptions about mental illness by following the lead of the Carter Center. The Center has made a place for sharing information and real knowledge about mental health giving it value – lifting it up for appreciation as a part of human existence not to be shunted. I am not sure that communities don’t address mental health as much as they do not know HOW to address it in the public forum. These conversations and activities at the Carter Center can act as models for communities with far more limited resources. I am grateful for the leadership and advocacy the Center has demonstrated.

The Center for Disease Control is also working to promote awareness among more American citizens. Some of the current research is looking at the affects of toxic stress on children. They suggest the following list for public awareness: 

• present research to professional and lay audiences
• invite experts to give keynote addresses to groups or provide training
• work with local journalists and reporters to highlight issues in their news stories
• use the research data in public leadership proclamations to prevent maltreatment of children
• get colleges and universities to incorporate research on these issues in their academic work (http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/pdf/childhood_stress.pdf).

One university that is training their faculty, staff, and students about these issues is Rutgers University. Their program is called the Campus Connect Gatekeeper Training. Though it is mandatory for all Residence Life staff, it is also recommended for student leaders. This training urges their community to not assume someone in trouble will seek help; instead  it encourages participants to be confident about starting a conversation with whomever says anything about suicide.  This program also openly promotes available resources.(http://news.rutgers.edu/feature/suicide-prevention-program-takes-community-approach-public-health-problem/20130924#.Ulb9QFCkosY).

This weblink is about the use of singing as a way to help individuals with mental health concerns. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=XDrmH0uM5xM

(my new granddaughter singing)

THE CHAIR

I am available!
And because I am so low to the ground, I especially love small children and animals to sit on me.
I am light ivory all over so I love to have colorful pillows and colorful things on me.
I am padded all over so if I am shifted or bump into the wall, I am fine.
I am available!
And I am easy to clean.

 

 

This is a wonderful activity to get yourself thinking about the issues of someone/something else.  The way you look at the "other" takes you into a ''never land' of sorts. This exercise was more playful for me. However, "when drama is used therapeutically [for teenagers], adolescents are provided with the opportunity to journey inward and project outward" (Gallo-Lopez, 2005, p. 83).  Teens can get overwhelmed by difficult changes in their lives, feeling out of control, leading to negative behaviors. Drama therapy can put them in a situation where they can make choices and be in control. Drama therapy can allow them to "explore problems, discover solutions, and have the freedom to experiment with feelings" Emunah, 2005, p. 114).

 

 

References

Gallo-Lopez, L. (2005). Drama therapy with adolescents. Play therapy with adolescents, 81-95.

Emunah, R. (2005). Drama therapy and adolescent resistance. Clinical applications of drama therapy in child and adolescent treatment, 107-120.





Making Life Wonderful Week 6 Health Blog



 

 

Marshal Rosenberg grew up in Detroit, Michigan where violence was particularly triggered by the school desegregation in the 1960s. After finishing a Ph. D. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin he worked in peaceful conflict resolution. His Center of Nonviolent Communication is located in New Mexico where many people train to use and to teach this type of empathetic and compassionate communication skill. Marshal says that too often people play the game, “Whose right?”, whereas he advocates a better game that we all already know how to play: “Making life wonderful” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loABGdbOXU0).

Rosenberg has also been active in providing training in communication skills for health care providers. Research showed that the need had become particularly critical because of the “fear and distrust due to risk of transmitting infectious diseases such as HIV” (Rosenberg, Molho, 1998, p. 340). They found that both physicians and patients were more satisfied with the healthcare experience when the doctor used more empathetic means of communication.  

In the video supplied here, I am interviewing Carolyn Steinhaus, who teaches and counsels in the Nonviolent (empathic) Communication (NVC) techniques in Atlanta, Georgia. I am grateful for her time and her talents and that she was willing to share in this brief introduction to NVC.

 

http://youtu.be/YFCrbYc6YFg

 

References

Rosenberg, M. http://www.cnvc.org/about/marshall-rosenberg.html.

Rosenberg, M. (2000). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loABGdbOXU0

Rosenberg, M., & Molho, P. (January 01, 1998). Nonviolent (empathic) communication for health care providers. Haemophilia: the Official Journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia, 4, 4, 335-40.