Meet the musician helping mental health patients express themselves.
Tim Hutchinson is Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s only therapeutic musician.
His role is to create experiences that support recovery and wellbeing through music.
“Music has endless benefits. It can help patients feel valued and understood, it reduces stress and fosters connection,” Tim explains. “My role is about making sure the care we provide isn’t just clinical, but it’s also deeply human.”
In his 23 years at the Trust, Tim has worked with every type of patient, from people with personality disorders to learning disabilities and autism.
He now works across inpatient wards at St George’s Park.
Tim runs both group and individual sessions which are tailored to people’s interests. Every session is different, from writing songs and playing instruments to music production.
“I think everybody is a musician,” he says. “The ideas and creativity are already there; I just help people facilitate it.”
Tim believes music can contribute to patient-centred care.
“It’s all about meeting people where they are emotionally, mentally and physically. Patients are able to express themselves, regulate their emotions and find calm in ways traditional clinical interventions can’t always reach.
“Music helps remove barriers and encourages patients to engage.”
Not only does music help improve people’s functional skills and emotional wellbeing, but it also helps with their confidence.
Tim says: “Through music, patients can create something and trust their own instincts. It shows them what’s possible and what they’re capable of.”
Tim has even been known to help patients who are in seclusion, playing music to them through the window.
He has also helped patients enter the Koestler Awards for music they have made. The annual awards aim to challenge negative stereotypes and motivate people to participate in arts.
The awards are run by Koestler Arts, a criminal justice arts charity that awards, exhibits and sells art made by prisoners and people in secure care.
“Entering the awards is a great way for people to make connection with the world, especially if they have been in hospital for a long time,” says Tim. “Taking part in the awards gives patients feedback and validation for what they’re creating.”
For Tim, the music sessions don’t just benefit patients, they can have a positive impact on staff as well. Wards are calmer, patients feel more settled and staff can join in.
Tim will continue to introduce patients to the power of music.
“Music can unlock motivation, communication and hope, helping patients connect to their identity beyond their illness.”