Music and health

"Music has many benefits like an over-the-counter medicine that you can safely prescribe to yourself."

- Dr. Isabelle Peretz, member of the La SAMS Scientific Committee, Émission Pénélope, Radio-Canada

Music that heals

With its Scientific Committee, La SAMS is interested in and participates in research on the multiple benefits of music on memory, mental health, stress, pain and quality of life.

According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), artistic interventions can effectively complement medical care, particularly in the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases.

The benefits of music on physical, mental and social health

"The arts are not meant to heal, but the arts can heal. They create that sense of deep
deep personal meaning that embellishes our lives, whatever the circumstances."

- Christophe Bailey, head of arts and health at WHO

La SAMS is actively involved in research

Geriatrician Dr. Julia Chabot is studying the benefits of virtual reality music for geriatric inpatients at St. Mary's Hospital Center. She hopes to demonstrate that this medium can enhance positive emotions and reduce pain in patients. In the future, she hopes to be able to use this intervention on other hospitalization units (including surgical services) and even in geriatric outpatient clinics. La SAMS is proud to contribute to this study by creating mini-concerts in virtual reality format.

La SAMS is collaborating with researchers Carole Anglade and Édith Durand, professors in the speech-language pathology departments of the Université de Montréal and the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, to demonstrate the impact of group singing on the health and well-being of people living with aphasia, i.e. language difficulties following a stroke. The researchers bring together people with aphasia in a Montreal choir directed by Jennifer Lee, choral conductor and artist with La SAMS, and regularly assess their communication skills and well-being. This research is part of the international SingWell study.Aphasia, by University of Ottawa researcher Anna Zumbansen.

Humanizing our healthcare environments through a constructive approach to arts and health

Working closely with staff at institutions and CISSS/CIUSSSs, La SAMS is developing an innovative and constructive approach that uses music to promote well-being.This creative dynamic benefits us all:

  • patients see their care experience enriched
  • caregivers find invaluable support
  • healthcare staff benefit from a more humane and inspiring working environment.
Learn more about the benefits of music

"With Music on Prescription, we innovate and treat. We heal, then we please. It's a balm."

-Dr. Hélène Boyer, Family Physician, Médecins francophones du Canada