Constructing a grounded theory of young people's recovery of musical identity in mental illness

• Findings provide a constructivist grounded theory of young people's recovery of musical identity.
• Musical identity is a way for young people to address aspects of self concept to facilitate recovery.
• Results raise awareness of the need for appropriate community-based music resources for young people.
• Music therapists can play a central role in facilitating young people's recovery of musical identity.

Musical identity is a highly relevant, yet little researched area within mental illness. In this study, the researchers explore how 11 young people's musical identities changed during their experiences of, and recovery from mental illness. The researchers use a constructivist grounded theory approach to collect and analyse in-depth interviews with young people attending a music therapy programme at a youth mental health service. Findings are presented as a constructivist grounded theory of young people's recovery of musical identity. This interpretation illustrates how aspects of these young people's pathology presents as ‘musical symptoms’ during acute illness and the ways in which young people engage in processes of ‘bridging’ and ‘playing out’ musical identity in the community. The role of music therapy in supporting young people's recovery from mental illness is presented, and the need to consider community-based music services is discussed.