Behind the prison walls, Poor mental health is unfortunately the norm, not the exception, in prisons. People in prison are far more likely to experience mental health difficulties than the general population and with the ongoing prison crisis, including overcrowding, prisons are unequipped to support individuals
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is Action. When it comes to prisons, action is needed from both individuals and institutions. Action from the individual to engage in meaningful, purposeful activity, but equally, action from prisons to provide those opportunities and encourage participation.
Prisons are not hospitals and prison staff are not mental health specialists. Staff are managing risk, behaviour, safety, and human distress all at once, in some of the most challenging environments possible. Access to mental health support and medication can also be slow and overstretched. While our choirs are not a clinical therapy service, they help to fill some of these gaps by offering a creative form of therapeutic support. Through shared musical experience, our sessions create safe and inclusive spaces where people can express themselves, connect with others and experience moments of emotional release.
Research shows that group singing can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve mood and strengthen social connection. But beyond the research, the reality is simple: prisons are difficult environments for anyone to exist in – even those without existing mental health difficulties.
Mental health is shaped by the environments and circumstances we live in. If you are spending nearly 23 hours a day in a cell, surrounded by tension, with little contact with family and friends, that environment will inevitably affect your wellbeing.
In prison, basic parts of daily life are controlled for you. When you eat, sleep, shower, or go outside, as well as being cut off from friends, family and the outside world. Over time, this loss of autonomy can strip people of their sense of individuality and identity.
Choirs Beating Time exist to address these issues.
For many participants, attending choir is itself an act of action. The choice to attend, to choose the songs and deciding how the sessions are all choices that carry real significance. These seemingly small elements foster a sense of agency and personal control, which are often limited within prison environments. For many prisoners, this feeling of autonomy is crucial in supporting mental health and building the confidence needed to begin turning their lives around.
Choir members also work collaboratively towards the annual Koestler Awards, giving participants a shared goal and a sense of achievement. To date, they have been recognised with 76 awards.
Creative programmes alone cannot solve the prison mental health crisis, but they can provide moments of mental release. For those two hours, our singers can forget they are in prison.