Dr. Murray Anderson featured on CTV Morning Live on World Health Day
When we hear the word health, we often think about physical health: eating healthy, exercise, diet, but we don’t always think of our mental health.
Dr. Murray Anderson, psychologist and assistant professor at Athabasca University (AU), joined CTV Morning Live, Edmonton April 7 for World Health Day to discuss mental health and wellness—and specifically how music can help.
He spoke about how music can benefit people and even gave some advice on ways to help cope with feelings of isolation that have coincided with the pandemic.
“I’ll ask individuals in session, ‘What do you listen to when you’re having a good day?’ or ‘Can you remember a time in your life when a particular song or band resonated with you?’ Responses will vary. On a good day, anything goes…you put on whatever you want,” he said.
“But, what about when you are having a bad day? This is when you put on music that resonates with you in a different way. It doesn’t have to be ‘Walking on Sunshine’ or something on an overly positive tip, but it’s something you connect to, and is relatable.”
Bringing music back
When asked how people can start integrating music back into their lives, Anderson suggested creating a playlist of your favourite songs and albums, and listening to one a day.
AU has curated Spotify playlists for just about every mood, and Anderson even created one himself called Dr. Murray’s Eclectic Mix, if you need a place to start.
“The main takeaway here is that music is for you. These are your habits, your playlists. Play what you like—whether you need a pick me up—or, when you need to be more in touch with your feelings,” he said.
Watch the full segment
Watch the full segment on the CTV Morning Live website, or through the embedded video below.
