The organisers stress the singing classes don’t have to replace talking therapies or medication.
But they could be either complimentary or a quicker, easier-to-access alternative for some women, at a time when there can be long waits for NHS mental health services.
Some mothers can wait up to six months for assessment and up to a year for one-to-one treatment, according to a 2024 report by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance., external
The Kings College London study found the cost of the music course, at between £126 and £539 per mother and baby depending on how it’s measured, was comparable to alternatives such as educational programmes and considerably lower than the cost of group therapy or home visits.
Yvonne Farquharson at Breathe says the arts organisation has now piloted its first singing sessions aimed at young dads.
And it has also been commissioned by the World Health Organization to train teams to roll out the classes in Denmark, Italy, Romania and other countries.
At the children’s centre in south London the group talk not only about the friendships they have made, but also about the skills they’ve picked up over the 10 weeks.
“I have two very small children so things can get very stressful at home,” says Stella while holding on tight to a wriggling baby Evie.
“I bring the singing back home with me so now I start humming when things get stressful, and I don’t even think about it, it just happens and I can cope.”