Canadian Music Therapy Fund needs your help
The way your favourite songs make you feel better isn’t just based on your emotions; there’s science behind it: Music therapy is the use of music to help alleviate stress and it can do wonders for people with dementia and other cognitive issues.
March is, among other things, Music Therapy Month and the Canadian Music Therapy Fund is hoping music fans of all ages will provide a little support this month to help their good work continue.
For more than three decades, the Toronto-based Canadian Music Therapy Fund has worked to support and provide treatment to people of all ages who benefit from this very special kind of help, including children on the autism spectrum, people experiencing mental health challenges and seniors who are struggling with cognitive decline. This organization is one of the only nonprofits in the country actively providing subsidized music therapy services to those who need and benefit from it most.
The need will continue to grow as Canada’s population continues to age, with seniors expected to make up nearly 25% of the population by 2030. As the population ages, more people will begin to struggle with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other mental challenges. Music therapy has shown to be especially powerful for older people with memory issues, allowing them to reconnect with things they loved in the past and helping them reduce stress while improving their mood.
Unfortunately, despite the widespread knowledge of music therapy being incredibly effective, these programs receive very little funding.
“This is about more than just music. It’s about dignity, connection and ensuring that people don’t spend their final years feeling lost and disconnected,” says Anna Kajtar, the group’s executive director. “Music therapy has been proven to change lives, but without support, these essential services are at risk of disappearing.”
Thanks to donations from supporters across Canada, last year the Canadian Music Therapy Fund was able to provide services to seniors across the country, enriching their lives. The need is expected to be even bigger in 2025, and the Canadian Music Therapy Fund is asking for your support in three ways:
*Make a donation by going here;
*Talking about the importance and benefits of music therapy on social media using #MusicTherapyMovesUs; and
*Advocating for the recognition of music therapy as a powerful tool for mental health and senior care.
If you’re on this website, you most likely have a strong connection to music. Consider how your favourite songs make you feel; the memories songs from your high school years bring back; how hearing that one song you love deep to your core can make a big difference in your day. That’s a form of music therapy. Shouldn’t everyone be able to access the care that makes their lives better?
More information on the Canadian Music Therapy Fund can be found here.
