Staff at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare are celebrating one year of a music therapy initiative at Antelope House, an acute mental health inpatient and crisis setting, which supports patients’ wellbeing during acute admissions.
Since Spring 2025, over 330 sessions have taken place in group and individual settings, with 96% of patients reporting a five-star experience.
Music therapy is an evidence-based psychological intervention that uses music to help people regulate emotions, express themselves and support their recovery. Delivered by a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Music Therapist, the service offers patients at Antelope House hospital in Southampton, an evidence-based therapeutic option during their admission.
Research shows that music can engage areas of the brain associated with emotional processing and social connection, making it especially effective for patients who feel withdrawn, agitated or overwhelmed.
By introducing arts therapies such as art and music therapy, the psychology team has further broadened the range of interventions available, enabling more inclusive and accessible psychological support for patients. This also supports the Trust’s commitment to delivering personalised, recovery-focused care and expanding access to diverse psychological therapies across services.
Within an acute setting, music can offer immediate grounding, help reduce anxiety and distress and create safe pathways for connection during moments of crisis.
One patient said: “This was the best therapy sessions I have ever had in my life. Felt every emotion and connected in a very deep and meaningful way.”
Sessions typically involve improvisation, songwriting, lyric exploration, guided listening and other structured therapeutic techniques which are tailored to the patient’s needs.
Sreeraj Kollarukandy, Music Therapist, said: “The sessions create space for expression, grounding, connection and hope. Music therapy has become a meaningful part of our therapeutic landscape – offering patients alternative ways to communicate, regulate and make sense of their experiences.
“We’ve had some great feedback from both patients and staff following our first year. As we head into year two, we’ll focus on consolidating and strengthening its place within the psychology service, ensuring it remains sustainable, responsive, and fully integrated into multidisciplinary care pathways.”
