Warehouse Worker Choir Formed to Show How Music Can Improve Mental Health of Sector
This World Mental Health Day (10 October), PPL PRS has formed a choir of warehouse
Could joining a choir help improve men’s mental health?
Music licensing business PPL PRS believe it can.
With International Men’s Day coming up on 19th November, focus is turning towards the wellbeing of men around the world, and how the pressures of life can affect their mental health.
Here in the UK, more men under 50 die due to suicide than any other reason, with 14 men dying every day by suicide. Shockingly, 74% (three in four) of all suicides are male.1
During their research of wellbeing in the warehouse and logistics industry, PPL PRS found that nearly half of the people who are currently employed in the sector have had their mental health negatively impacted by their role.2
When you combine this statistic together with the fact that over 67% of people employed in this industry are male3, you can see the challenge that faces employers in warehousing and logistics to overcome the stigma around mental health, and address the issues their people are experiencing every day.
Whilst conducting a survey of 500 warehouse workers, PPL PRS found that over half of respondents felt that music being played at work makes them feel happy, whilst feelings of being energised and relaxed as a result of workplace music were close behind.2
This got the team at PPL PRS thinking – if playing music can help with mental wellbeing, could singing with colleagues bring an even bigger boost?
Working with Mira Showers, Music In Offices, music therapist Marianne Rizkallah and musicologist Dr Madeline Castrey, they created a workplace choir. Holding a music therapy-inspired session with them to understand the impact music has, and how it helps to improve mental health and steers us through hard times.
The choir, cleverly called The Pallet-Tones, came together at Mira’s Worcester distribution centre in September to perform a specially written composition, built around the words and feelings from warehouse workers themselves.
CREDIT: PA MEDIA
The song, A Day in my Life, written and composed by Dr Castrey, and conducted by the enigmatic Gina Baker, highlights how important the logistics sector is to everyday life, and how valuable the people behind it are. Logistics Manager, and Pallet-Tones choir member Paul Baker, sums it up perfectly with his comment: “I would tell anyone who’s contemplating setting up a choir in the workplace to absolutely go for it. The thought might be daunting because it takes you out of your comfort zone, but the amount of satisfaction and achievement you (and your colleagues) will get – especially from singing in a warehouse environment – is second-to-none.
“When we sing together, the stress of the warehouse fades away. It reminds us that we’re more than just our jobs.”
The performance at Mira’s warehouse was captured on video, along with interviews of those involved.
PPL PRS has also confirmed a continued commitment to the warehouse sector, with plans to form further choirs in collaboration with Music in Offices over the coming year.
Greg Aiello, Managing Director for PPL PRS, added:
“I was blown away watching The Pallet-Tones perform. This marks the first stage in a multi-year initiative in partnership with Music In Offices to create choirs in warehouses across the UK as part of our ongoing commitment to increase workforce wellbeing through music.
“We’re also raising awareness of the fact that music can be incorporated into a business’ employee wellbeing strategy. It could seriously improve morale, output and ultimately the bottom line.”
PPL PRS recognises the seriousness of mental health and death by suicide, and understands that music cannot combat all the issues which relate to it, but can help people open up to others through music therapy and conversations.
References
Author
Alexandra Carr
Alexandra Carr is a Member of The Chartered Institute of Public Relations and has worked in communications roles for over 20 years. Prior to her current position she worked for The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (UK) and Transport for London. Alexandra joined PPL PRS as PR & Communications Manager in December 2017, bringing together her love of writing and music.
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