GP hopes to convince the government singing should be on prescription in Scotland
A Scottish GP says music is nature’s “anti-depressant” as she vows to convince the government to allow her to prescribe singing to her patients.
Glasgow’s ‘singing doctor’, Veronica McBurnie, says there is a direct link between music and wellness and hopes choral singing will soon be used to treat anxiety and depression in Scotland.
She said: “It’s a proven fact that singing is good for your health and my mission is to get the health minister to allow GP’s to prescribe singing for good health.
“Singing is a natural anti-depressant and if you sing freely, which I love facilitating in my classes, it’s the best sound and it’s the best therapy for you as a person.”
Dr McBurnie organises choirs that promote singing health and wellness across the country and although her approach may be unorthodox, she says there is science to back up her findings.
She said: “Scientifically, it’s proven when you sing you increase the ‘happy hormones’, the what are called, endo-cannabinoids which promote feelings of pleasure and joy.
Dr McBurnie added: “If you sing alone, it’s good for you and if you sing with someone else or in a group it’s even better and if you sing in harmony well, that’s just a rocket to the moon.”
Approximately 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problems in the UK and in 2017 the NHS prescribed a record number of antidepressants with 64.7 million prescriptions in England alone.
Dr McBurnie hopes singing will soon be recognised as an alternative therapy for people experiencing mental health problems as she says music can do what medicine can’t.
Glasgow based carer Nula Brady attends Dr McBurnie’s choir in the city’s Southside and says she’s already feeling the benefits of music when it comes to managing her depression.
She said: “I’ve suffered with depression throughout the years but I’ve found since coming along, it’s got me out the house and it’s got me to socialise with different people.
Ms Brady added: “It’s got me to enjoy life again.”
If you’d like to make an appointment to see the singing doctor, you can get in touch with Dr McBurnie here.
The choir rehearses at Finn’s Place in Glasgow’s Southside every Tuesday evening at 7.15pm.
