Creating a music room for adult mental health service users at the Warneford.

The Lucy’s Room appeal was started by Lucy’s family following her death in 2017.  The aim of the appeal stems from Lucy’s previous use of the music room in the Highfield Unit (a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit) which she was unable to access once she moved into Adult Mental Health wards and community support.  The development of Lucy's Room will mean that those receiving care on the adult wards and through the community mental health teams will have a space where they can make music, play music and receive music therapy sessions.  

Evidence has shown that music and being able to express your feelings using music has a positive impact on mental health, with articles like ‘The Healing Power of Music’ (William Forde Thompson & Gottfried Schlaug; Scientific American Mind 26, 32 - 41 (2015) Published online: 12 February 2015 | doi:10.1038/scientificamericanmind0315-32) highlighting its impact.

The British Association for Music Therapy website which shows that the use of music can help people to:

• Feel more motivated
• Express themselves creatively
• Develop their social and communication skills
• Gain greater awareness of self and others
• Build their self esteem
• Think about the impact music has on their lives
• Become more confident in making choices
• Feel that they are in a secure and accepting environment, where positive change can take place

The design of the building has been created with feedback from current patient groups, Oxford Health staff and clinicians and the family and this artists impression illustrates what we hope Lucy's Room will look like once it is open for use:

By supporting the development of this room, you will be helping to provide a creative space for people to express themselves and seek solace in music.