Doctors Use Rap, Hip Hop to Deal With Mental Disorders

Music's soothing benefits in curing many ills are well known. A surprising addition to this evidence is research by two UK-based scientists who are using Hip Hop and rap lyrics to treat depression and bipolar disorder.

The two researchers are neuroscientist Dr Becky Inkster from Cambridge University and consultant psychiatrist Dr Akeem Sule, an honorary visiting research associate at Cambridge University's department of psychiatry. The two scientists are using hits from the likes of J Cole and Professor Green to get people with mental health problems to open up, reports BBC.

They run special Hip Hop Psyche events where lyrics of rappers are gone into deeply and their angst explained.  Key Changes, a charity organisation also uses hip-hop and other urban music genres to help young people  suffering from  a range of mental disorders to  express their thoughts and feelings through lyrics and music.

"We've used this as a passion and a vehicle to connect with young people," says Dr Inkster.

Inkster and Sule explore the  "technique" of patients writing "out where they see themselves in a year or two and to use rap lyrics to outline their future histories" as a form of treatment, reports the Guardian.

The two quote  J Cole's statement before the release of his second album Born Sinner where he says, "When you listen to the album you'll notice how it flows from darkness to light, from hell to heaven, depression to happiness," reports BBC.

"It literally was a way out... I'm writing my way out of a negative place, a darker place."

Another example they hold up is of rapper Professor Green who is involved in suicide prevention campaigns. He says, "Writing lyrics helps me get issues out of my head, where they get mumbled and jumbled."

"When you put your thoughts on paper, it helps you get them out, so you have something to look at, and analyse."

Experts believe that Eminem's 'Stan' or Pharrell Williams' recent 'Happy' song contain messages about mental issues.

Dr Akeem says that many of his young patients find it easier to deal with their problems through the medium of rapping.

Using the urban music styles of rap and hip hop helps young patients open up about their issues better, he beleives.

A 26-year-old patient of bipolar disorder says, "Instead of speaking about things that I've gone through or having to explain, I rap about it."