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Mary Prendergast, musician, facilitating participatory music making workshop
Photo by Photozone
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WHAT runs an extensive participatory music programme for the clients of Waterford’s Mental Health and Disability Services. Since October 2007, musicians Mary Prendergast, Liam Merriman, Jane O’Brien Moran, Leah Clarke and Kevin O’Shanahan have been engaging the clients of the Department of Psychiatry in Waterford Regional Hospital, St. Otteran’s Hospital and Ard na nDeise high-support Hostel in regular music sessions. Music sessions were also provided for nursing staff to enable them to engage more fully in the workshops and to understand its benefits for mental health clients. This pioneering programme is based on the successful outcomes of Kevin O’Shanahan’s time as musician in residence with WHAT in 2007 which demonstrated the transformative impact of music in terms of mood, social interaction, communication and motivation. The evaluation of this residency showed how musical activities, with the emphasis on participation and inclusion, have much to offer as a social activity in the provision of quality holistic mental health care. The music sessions in Newport Day Care Centre, Dungarvan are funded by Waterford County Council.
Since 2009, in line with the opening of the WHAT Centre for Arts & Health, WHAT has also engaged the clients of Tory Services and Acquired Brain Injury Ireland in participatory music programmes.
WHAT also hosts monthly music making workshops in the Renal Dialysis Unit of Waterford Regional Hospital. This programme is kindly supported by the National Concert Hall's Learn & Explore Programme.
 
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