Page 30 - Akae Beka

The Healing Blues

By Anita Schlank, Ph.D. most reported reluctance in letting others know about medical
The blues community has mourned too many deaths of or mental health problems. In addition, touring on the road can
extremely talented musicians who have died due to depression. exacerbate problems with depression or substance abuse, given
These untimely deaths emphasize that we, as a society, need the chronic lack of sleep and easy access to alcohol and other
to speak more openly about mental illness and suicide. While mood-altering chemicals. Luckily, these negative factors are
we have come a long way since the times when suicide victims somewhat countered by the fact that there does appear to be a
were buried with stakes driven through their hearts (to prevent healing effect to both playing and listening to blues music.
their “unquiet spirits” from troubling the rest of us), there is still a Listening to and playing music can enhance well-being and
stigma felt by those suffering from mental disorders that can lead reduce pain and suffering. It lowers levels of cortisol, known as the
to reluctance in seeking mental health treatment. “stress hormone,” and can even improve communication among
Raising awareness around this topic and educating the those with autism (Patel, 2005; Kemper & Danhauer, 2005; Krout,
public about available mental health treatment is particularly 2001). These effects might be particularly profound when it comes
crucial for artists and musicians, as there appears to be a link to the blues. The blues is often viewed as one of the most emotional
between creativity and both mood disorders and addictions. genres of music, and while some may assume that listening to the
One survey found that people in the musical community were blues will make a person sad, the opposite tends to be true.
much more likely than the general population to be diagnosed The reason for this is not entirely clear. Some believe it is
with depression, and more than twice as likely to attempt suicide. due to the beauty that can be found in sad tones, while others
This problem can be especially relevant among blues musicians, believe the simplicity of the chord structure allows for increased
who are less likely than classical musicians to belong to a union, emotional expression. Still, others assume healing comes from
or to have health insurance provided for them. In fact, Dr. Marc the catharsis of hearing blues singers speak about struggles that
Brodsky (1995) surveyed blues musicians in Chicago, and found are similar to one’s own, much like the comfort found in 12-step
that very few could afford individual health insurance plans, and meetings. These beneficial effects are increased when listening

Left to right: Anita Schlank, Mark Earley, Annika Chambers, Mike Welch, Kevin Burt and Rev. Billy C. Wirtz present a mental health panel at the 2019 Big Blues Bender.
Photo by Erik Kabik

28 Blues Festival Guide 2020