Are Music Lyrics Causing Suicidal Behavior in Children?

Frances Rivera

Department of English, Delaware Technical Community College

ENG 102: Composition and Research

Mrs. Stephanie Jeffery

November 30, 2021

Are Music Lyrics Causing Suicidal Behavior in Children?

Music lyrics do not cause suicidal behavior in children since not all songs contradict wellbeing. According to Ransom (2015), some positive exemplars in the music industry are still available (p. 17). Furthermore, educational music which can encourage children to be hopeful, help them develop self-esteem and deal with adversity are also available (Songs That Build Positive Attitudes, n.d). For example, the song “Brave” by Sara Bareilles can be a source of encouragement for children to have hope and to pursue their dreams. An example of an excerpt in the lyrics of the song which can serve as an encouragement to children is “Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live. Maybe one of these days, you can let the light in and show me how big your brave is.” This song can encourage children to have courage and perseverance when things are not going their way (Ransom, 2015). Therefore, not all songs have contradicting lyrics which can lead to children’s suicidal behavior. There are songs such as “Brave” by Sara Bareilles with lyrics that can be an encouragement to the children through their lyrics.

Even though some music lyrics can lead to suicidal behavior, some lyrics can help children alter negative moods. According to Write the World (2016), children are inspired by music on a daily basis since it serves as an outlet for expression, emotions, and creativity. Music can also be utilized as a type of therapy since it has been established that it can release endorphins in the brain, which serve as stress relievers and happiness boosters (para. 4). Additionally, Foran (2009) indicates that music plays a positive role by assisting traumatized children specifically in the classroom and therapeutic environments manage emotions, understand new cognitive and emotional information and activate brain pathways (p. 58). An example of a positive impact of music on children can be demonstrated by a study conducted by Dr Tobias Greitemeyer from the University of Sussex. In the study, Michael Jackson’s song “Heal the World” was played for one group of children. When a cup of pencils was knocked over, the children who listened to the song picked up pencils that were approximately five times more than those collected by children who listened to other negative songs. This indicates that songs with positive lyrics such as “Heal the world” may not lead to suicidal behavior but rather alter negative moods or inspire children to be better and act in a considerate and empathetic way (Write the World, 2016).

Listening to music lyrics does not lead to suicide behavior but instead contributes to the well beings of the children by offering a great way to generate conversations in a less threatening way. According to Blue (2018), listening to music with children can enhance bonding with children (para. 3). If the lyrics of a song spark something in the children, they are likely to speak up, and with time, they can find themselves in meaningful discussions. Additionally, Seldman (n.d) posits that song lyrics have also been applied in psychotherapy practice to help people express their feelings and to enable them to discover new insights regarding themselves (para. 3). Psychologists also suggest that song lyrics may be relatable and a useful strategy for parents to establish hot topics with their children. This can be very useful for children with mental health problems since it can trigger meaningful conversations. (Rebecchini, 2021) supports this by indicating that music therapy can enhance the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents and also improve communication in children living with autistic spectrum disorder (para. 12). There are some examples of songs about mental health that can help parents or guardians develop conversations with their children. One of these songs is In My Blood by Shawn Mendes, which is a song about anxiety and it brings awareness to the issue of anxiety and depression. An example of an excerpt in the lyrics that can assist children in developing vocabulary to express their anxious feelings is “Help me, it’s like the walls are caving in” (Seldman n.d). Therefore, not all songs have negative and can lead to suicidal behavior. There are songs with lyrics that can help children with depression and anxiety, which are conditions associated with suicidal behavior. A song like In My Blood by Shawn Mendes can help such children establish vocabulary to express their conditions and therefore get the necessary help.

Even though some lyrics can be troublesome in terms of encouraging behavior such as alcohol abuse, suicide as an alternative, and graphic violence, studies have shown that music can have a positive impact on children. (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2017) states that sharing music between different generations in a family cannot only be a pleasurable experience, but it can also enable parents to guide their children about their choice of music (para. 6). According to McPherson (2009), close bonding between the parent and the child often leads to positive benefits for the child (p. 6). Therefore, by sharing music, parents and guardians can pay close attention to the music choice and viewing patterns of their children and help them recognize music that can be destructive to them. If such music is identified, discussion without criticism can be useful to the child. The lyrics of the music listened to by the children can also be useful to the parents since they can utilize them to discuss essential topics such as suicide, violence, sex, and others. This enables the parents to be more involved and open with their children, thereby offering a safe outlet to establish discussions on issues in the daily lives of their children (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2017). Therefore, music lyrics do not cause suicidal behavior, but they can help children avoid them. Through sharing of music, parents can use the lyrics to establish significant discussions about issues such as suicide, sex, and other troublesome behavior. Besides, parents can also offer guidance when they recognize that their children are listening to destructive music.

References

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2017, October). Listening to music and watching music videos. https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/The-Influence-Of-Music-And-Music-Videos-040.aspx

Blue, A. (2018, July). To improve relationship with kids, try turning up the music. University of Arizona News. https://news.arizona.edu/story/improve-relationship-kids-try-turning-music.

Foran, L. M. (2009). Listening to music: Helping children regulate their emotions and improve learning in the classroom. Educational Horizons, 88(1), 51-58. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ868339.pdf

McPherson, G. E. (2009). The role of parents in children’s musical development. Psychology of Music, 37(1), 91-110. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0305735607086049

Ransom, P. F. (2015). Message in the Music: Do Lyrics Influence Well-Being? (capstone). Upenn Libraries. https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1094&context=mapp_capstone

Rebecchini, L. (2021). Music, mental health, and immunity. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity-Health, 100374. https://www.sciencedirect.com/sdfe/reader/pii/S2666354621001770/pdf

Seldman, K. (n.d.). “Alexa, play Shawn Mendes!” A fresh way to talk to teens about mental health. Your Teen Magazine. Retrieved from https://yourteenmag.com/health/teenager-mental-health/talking-about-mental-health.

Songs that build positive attitudes. Songsforteaching. https://www.songsforteaching.com/positiveattitudes.htm.

Write the World. (2016, March). Do music lyrics pose a positive or negative effect on children? https://writetheworld.com/groups/1/shared/11333/version/26847.