A senior lecturer in Music Therapy at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Dr Katrina McFerran is immersed in a new study that aims to find out why some young people use heavy metal music in a negative way, according to the University’s Newsroom (and note that the URL contains the number “666,” in what is presumably a bizarre coincidence).
By conducting in-depth interviews with 50 young people aged between 13 and 18, along with a national survey of 1,000 young people, Dr McFerran is looking to develop an early intervention model that can be integrated into schools to impact positively before behavioral problems occur.
Maybe things are different Down Under, but one can only imagine what that “model” might look like and how cash-strapped public schools could afford to implement and manage it when textbooks often present a financial obstacle, particularly to Stateside schools.
Anyway, Dr McFerran is quoted as saying: "The mp3 revolution means that young people are accessing music more than ever before and it's not uncommon for some to listen to music for seven or eight hours a day.
"Most young people listen to a range of music in positive ways; to block out crowds, to lift their mood or to give them energy when exercising, but young people at risk of depression are more likely to be listening to music, particularly heavy metal music, in a negative way.
"Examples of this are when someone listens to the same song or album of heavy metal music over and over again and doesn't listen to anything else. They do this to isolate themselves or escape from reality.
"If this behavior continues over a period of time then it might indicate that this young person is suffering from depression or anxiety, and at worst, might suggest suicidal tendencies."
Dr. McFerran said parents should be aware of their children's music listening habits, pick up on early warning signs and take early action.
"If parents are worried, they should ask their children questions like — how does that music make you feel? If children say the music reflects or mirrors the way they feel then ask more about what the music is saying," she said.
"If listening doesn't make them feel good about themselves, this should ring alarm bells. Alternatively, if parents notice a downturn in their child's mood after listening to music this is also a cause for showing interest and getting involved."
OK, to be clear: I think we can all agree that these findings (and they are not conclusions yet by the University’s own admission) raise important issues and parents should be monitoring their kids’ listening habits - and computer habits and eating habits and sleeping habits – for signs of trouble.
But this must be seen in perspective. For one thing, the sample group was small. For another, teens are notorious for obsessing on something for a week before dropping it abruptly and moving on to something else.
Yeah, Slipknot’s music is aggressive and angry but just because Junior is blasting it 24/7 doesn’t necessarily mean he’s struggling with mental illness. Like anything, one hopes parents will take this information with a grain of salt and use it only in the context of a bigger picture.
This is a joke! I've been a Heavy metal fan all my life! i'm 40 years old and love every show i've been to.. too many to list, I listen to all speed, thrash , Death, Black and power metal too. Heavy metal is a way of life. It's not a passing phase. its in your blood. No drugs just pure Heavy Metal!
Posted by: Mike | 10/20/2011 at 11:29 PM
I think it's misleading to have "study links heavy metal to depression" as the title of this article. To me, that's suggesting that heavy metal CAUSES depression.
It's much more reasonable to state (or better, to ask whether) depressed people are more likely than non-depressed people to listen to metal.
Posted by: Andrew | 10/20/2011 at 11:40 PM
So we're all supposed to "positively" listen to music as a way to block out crowds, and for exercise? Sorry, I thought we were supposed to enjoy music for its artistic merit...
Posted by: airsiren | 10/20/2011 at 11:51 PM
In my experience as a musician, kids who listen to heavy metal music are much more likely pick up an instrument and try to learn to play their favourite songs, and have a better understanding of the world around them. They think.
Repetitively listening to a song, or even a ringle riff, for that matter, is an excellent way to understand the mechanics of music. Generally, metal tends to be a much more technically challenging than the average pop song is to play. Therefore, more listening is required to actually understand the orchestration and advanced musical techniques required to reproduce one's favourite song.
Regarding the lyrics, I would much rather my son listen to metal, with themes that tend to confront difficult social issues, than rap "music", with it's focus on gangsterism and sexual inequality, or mindless pop, which tends to convey no message at all.
Posted by: Musician | 10/20/2011 at 11:55 PM
I'm old enough to remember the 80s, when those kids killed themselves and the parents tried to sue. And I listened to metal at the time, and guess what? I lived. So will the teens in this study. If a kid kills him/herself, it's because of him/her, not because of anything or anyone else. Having said that, where were their parents? Those young people (the Judas Priest/Ozzy Osbourne listening ones) in particular came from families where the parents weren't around.
Last thing...The musical genre whose listeners has the highest suicide rate actually IS country. I put that, again, where it belongs--on the demographic. Namely, a lot of seniors listen to country and have the statistically highest rate of suicide. You can bend stats any way you want. So how about we say the music really is one small part of a MUCH bigger picture, and give depressed people the help they need?
Posted by: Synaesthetik | 10/21/2011 at 12:01 AM
I'm depressed and I never listened to heavy metal - hated it!
Posted by: insomniac | 10/21/2011 at 02:04 AM
Possibly a depressive personality might be drawn to heavy metal, identifying with the lyrics or whatever .. but then too much of anything can be misery-making. Personally I can't stand too many sunny days in succession.
Posted by: NoOzzieFan | 10/21/2011 at 02:06 AM
What came first the chicken or the egg? So, did Heavy Metal music induce anxiety and depression or were these symptoms already present, and the music instead acted as a relief outlet. I'm thinking the latter.
Posted by: Heff | 10/23/2011 at 04:53 PM
metal doesn't cause depression its the leading cause of anarchism and hedenism
Posted by: geoff smith | 02/21/2012 at 10:25 PM