Studies show that 1 out of 5 children die every day because
of the mental disorders rising from child abuse around the world. The question
of how many children are abused and neglected each year in the Africa is
seemingly simple, but it does not have an easy answer. Psychological and mental
disorders are among the biggest effects on victims of child abuse. One thing
that these statistics make clear is that we need creative solutions to the
rising crisis.
Several Child Abuse Centers have been built all over Africa
to rehabilitate the children from the post-abuse effects. One of the driving
causes of abuse—and mental disorders for children—is neglect from parents.
Research shows that these centers have specific treatments for child abuse
victims. However, access to the best treatment is expensive, and few centers
have the funds to pay for private psychologists.
One of the best—and most creative—treatments available today
is music therapy. Unfortunately, in Africa, less than 10% of the
psychotherapists use music therapy as a treatment to child abuse victimization.
The reasons behind this are fairly straightforward: most therapists are not
aware of the benefits of music therapy.
Depressed adolescents listening to music experienced a
significant decrease in stress hormone (cortisol) levels, and most adolescents
shifted towards left frontal EEG activation (associated with positive affect). This
is because music controls the excessive production of stress hormones and calms
the blood cells, helping the cells to expand, and allowing the nervous system
to relax.
While effective, music therapy is
also one of the most expensive forms of psychological treatment. The cost of
music lessons and equipment alone prohibit most poor children from picking up
an instrument.
Even as a hobby, music helps to
relax and relieve stress. It is also seen as one of the major stress management
tool. Studies even show that the musicians tend to have a greater ability to
manage stress than others.
Rather than getting music
therapists to treat these victimized children, we must take actions on a
grass-root level and steps that are easily approachable. One of the major steps
that should be taken is to encourage young, motivated and experienced musicians
to help in rehabilitation for victims. Another step that we can take is to get
the musicians teaching the children how to play music, so that the children can
help themselves with music.
One popular idea is to create a
portal to connect donors with musicians all over the Africa, encouraging them
to gift the victims with the musical instruments and the language of music,
helping them encouraging self-treatment for the post-abuse effects.
Through music therapy, we can
solve the issue in the best effective, yet efficient way possible. The
officials must take steps that can encourage, motivate, inspire and empower
effected victims to learn self-treatment through music, at the same time,
encourage musicians to teach these victims voluntarily. With this, comes the idea of launching a new youth initiative in Qatar called "Chords 4 Change".
Chords 4 Change, is preferably set to launch by the end of 2013 with success stories. It will therefore conduct it's first concert and performance from abused children during late 2013 or early 2014. I believe, together, with collaborative support of humanity and Chords 4 Change, we can altogether help these kids out.
Till then, if you think you believe in this idea, and support it, drop me down an email directly at abdulrehmansajid@gmail.com.
