I Hate Everything… but I like friends. Developing Understandings of Inclusion and Wellbeing through Songwriting with young people with ASN

Wellbeing is more than good mental health, it also encapsulates feelings of enjoying life, belonging and self worth. The World Health Organisation’s definition of health ‘as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing’ becomes problematic for those with additional support needs (ASN) who may never achieve completion in one or more of these aspects. While there have been initiatives to promote mental health, particularly post-covid, understandings of how wellbeing is experienced and understood by young people who have ASN is lacking.

A study was undertaken with the aim of investigating the experiences of young people with mixed ASN in a songwriting project with a community music organisation through mixed methods. A 20-week programme was undertaken focusing on creating a song with 12 young people aged 13-14 who attended a special class in a mainstream school. Informed consent was obtained from parents for young people’s participation and young people’s verbal assent was gathered before each workshop. Data gathered were song lyrics, interviews with teachers as well as pictures and verbal data from an art-making activity designed to elicit young people’s views on the project.
Interviews, song lyrics and verbal data were subjected to reflexive thematic analysis with two themes identified. Getting it off our chests gathered descriptions of young people’s increased expression, sense of catharsis and use of humour through the
programme. A theme specific to teachers was many ways in which detailed the range of disciplines through which young people were able to participate according to their interests (e.g., writing lyrics, rapping, singing, playing instruments, helping with recording). Interdisciplinaryness was remarked upon as a key mechanism for inclusion. Young people’s artwork was also analysed with reflexive thematic analysis. Two themes were identified: 'bringing the song to the world' were pictures which represented album artwork or cover art for streaming services. 'Me in the song' gathered depictions of the young people drawing themselves as singers and musicians in a band on stage. Three young people created art which did not fit into either theme. The mixed methods employed in this study illuminated
the emotional release and personal expression which may contribute to a greater sense of wellbeing. Analysis of pictures indicated, for some, that a sense of self-worth was achieved, demonstrated by personal identification with the completed song and the willingness to share it outwith the classroom.