Close
Dr Alexandra Burton will present: Active ingredients and mechanisms of action of a community singing programme for mothers with postnatal depression
Seminar details
Title: Active ingredients and mechanisms of action of a community singing programme for mothers with postnatal depression
Speaker: Dr Alexandra Burton
Date: 4th June 2025.
Abstract
There is a large and growing evidence base on the health benefits of arts and cultural engagement. In this seminar, Alex will present findings from a qualitative evaluation of the Melodies for Mums. Melodies for Mums programme, a 10-week singing programme for mother’s experiencing postnatal depression. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with participants to explore the specific programme components that supported mental health and wellbeing (the active ingredients of the programme) and the mechanisms of action which led to these improvements in mental health. Alex will also introduce the INNATE Framework, a tool for identifying the active ingredients of creative health programmes and the Multi-Level Leisure Mechanisms Framework; a theoretical framework which explains how leisure activities impact our health.
Biography
Dr Alexandra Burton is a senior lecturer in mental health research in the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London. Her research explores how and why social, cultural and community programmes impact the health and wellbeing of people with mental health problems, as well as barriers and enablers to engagement primarily using qualitative methods of inquiry. She currently holds an MQ Fellows Award to explore inequalities in access to social prescribing among people living with severe mental illnesses.
