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Overview

This pilot project, delivered by the North West London Arts Psychotherapies Service (including Paula Hedderly, Philip Clarke, Anna Young and Mamoon Bhuyan) sets out to explore whether digital techniques in music therapy could enhance engagement, mental health, socialisation, and creativity for young people with complex mental health needs in secondary care. The service evaluation focused on young people aged 16–25 in a London borough, aiming to co-produce a group music therapy model that integrates digital tools and contemporary music-making practices. The project responds to the persistent gap between need for and availability of appropriate mental health treatment for young people, and forms part of a broader quality improvement initiative in the borough to diversify arts therapies within the Young Person’s Care Pathway.

Approaches & Methodology

The programme was co-designed with young people, who contributed feedback and ideas during planning to ensure the intervention addressed their needs and concerns. Recruitment targeted individuals from CNWL secondary mental health services and third-sector partners, offering a 16-week group music therapy programme. The group was facilitated by an experienced music therapist and a trainee, using a studio model that placed music at the core of connectedness, self-expression, and wellbeing. Digital techniques included musical apps, music-creation software, sound production, live recording, and the use of laptops for accessible music-making. The approach blended musical improvisation and production, integrating both electronic and live elements, and was adapted in response to ongoing participant feedback.

Aims & Objectives

The project aimed to:

  • Investigate whether digital techniques in group music therapy could enhance engagement, psychological wellbeing, socialisation, and creativity for young people with complex mental health needs.
  • Co-produce the intervention with young people to ensure relevance and inclusivity.
  • Disseminate learning to the wider music therapy and psychological therapies professions, supporting greater inclusivity and diversity in mental health provision.
  • Contribute to the development of a robust arts therapies offer for young people transitioning from CAMHS to adult services.

Outcomes & Measured Impact

Outcome measures were used and a brief semi-structured interview conducted with all participants pre-therapy with their informed consent. These included the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires, as a way to respectively assess participants’ levels of mood and anxiety as well as the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) to ascertain the degree to which participants’ health and wellbeing were impacting on their levels of daily functioning.  

Pre-therapy assessments showed that most participants experienced severe depression and anxiety, with correspondingly high PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores. Reported levels of functioning showed greater variation.

Pre-therapy themes included uncertainty about new experiences, social anxiety, difficulties with engagement, and a strong but isolated interest in music. During the 16-week programme, participants reported positive experiences, including downloading group resources for self-regulation, increased confidence to attend other groups, and improved access to safeguarding support. The use of digital technology facilitated engagement and shared music-making. However, consistent attendance was sometimes challenging. Post-therapy evaluation is ongoing, with plans for a second pilot group and an individual pathway to widen accessibility and collect further outcome data.

Key Enablers

  • Co-design and co-production with young people, ensuring the intervention was relevant and responsive.
  • Integration of digital technology, making music therapy more accessible and engaging.
  • Collaboration with the Trust digital team and use of laptops for easy music creation.
  • Support from Brunel University and CNWL NHS Foundation Trust, providing resources and expertise.

Key Challenges/Barriers

  • Inconsistent group attendance, partly due to scheduling conflicts with exams and other commitments.
  • Difficulties in engaging some participants.
  • The need for further post-therapy evaluation to fully understand impact and refine the model.
  • Balancing the use of digital tools with the need for in-person connection and therapeutic safety.

Demographics, Settings & Referral Routes

Demographics: The project was aimed at supporting young people aged 16–25 with significant and complex mental health needs, including those experiencing isolation, relationship and attachment issues, and difficulties with safely managing thoughts and feelings. 

Settings: The intervention was delivered in a community allied health setting, with a focus on young adults and adolescents, and children.

Referral Routes: Participants were recruited via secondary care professionals (Allied Health Professionals, Occupational Therapists, Community Mental Health Teams, Psychiatrists) and through partnerships with third-sector mental health organisations in the London borough. Referrals also came from CAMHS and the Young Adults Pathway Lead.

Evaluation Methods

A mixed-methods evaluation was used, including validated outcome measures (e.g. PHQ-9, GAD-7 and WSAS) and qualitative pre- and post-therapy interviews. Service user feedback was collected throughout, and post-therapy evaluation is ongoing. The project prioritised informed consent and safeguarding, with plans to expand evaluation in future pilot groups.

Participant & Stakeholder Feedback

Feedback from service users was positive, with some members reporting increased confidence and engagement in other support and activity groups. However, an individual offer has subsequently been developed where group work was not indicated and it was not possible to gain post-therapy feedback from all participants. Referrers from CAMHS and the Young Adults Pathway Lead expressed appreciation for the treatment offer and these partnerships are ongoing in an attempt to appropriately support young adults’ health and wellbeing. 

Alignment with National Strategy & System Learning

The project aligns with national strategies to improve mental health services for young people, particularly those transitioning from CAMHS to adult services. It supports the diversification of therapies within the Young Person’s Care Pathway and contributes to system learning on the use of digital techniques in arts therapies. The findings will be disseminated through the music therapy community and trainings to help inform future practice.

This Case Study was submitted as part of a call out for Createch Case Studies, and demonstrates good practice in digital innovation within creative health.

Innovation & Digital Transformation

This pilot demonstrates the potential of digital techniques in music therapy to enhance engagement, wellbeing, and creativity for young people with severe mental health issues. The project exemplifies digital innovation in music therapy, integrating apps, music-creation software, and live recording into therapeutic practice. The use of digital tools made music therapy more accessible and engaging for young people, supporting self-regulation and creative expression. Co-production, digital innovation, and a flexible, responsive approach were key to its success. Ongoing evaluation and further pilots will inform the development of scalable, inclusive arts therapies for young people in secondary care.