Exploring the Potential for African Hand Drumming in Alleviating Stress and Depression Among the Blind Community

Introduction: Mental health issues, particularly depression and anxiety, are among the major contributors to the worldwide burden of disease. Within the blind community, the emphasis on physical symptoms may lead to the neglect of mental health assessment and treatment for individuals with visual impairments. Without timely intervention, these issues can escalate into depression, or even severe depression. This study aims to investigate the effects of African hand drumming therapy on anxiety and stress among members of the blind community in New Zealand. Nine blind participants from Blind Low Vision New Zealand participated in the study. Methods: A 6-month intervention was conducted from June 2024 to the end of 2024. Eighteen individuals with visual impairments from the New Zealand blind community were selected and randomly allocated to either the intervention group ( n  = 9) or the waitlist control group ( n  = 9). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and semistructured interviews were used to collect and analyze treatment outcomes. Results: The findings indicate that African hand drumming therapy significantly reduced PHQ-9 scores in the intervention group, with a marked decrease in depressive symptoms compared to the control group, which showed little change over the study period. Statistical analyses demonstrated significant pre–post differences, with effect sizes indicating substantial treatment effects. Discussion: These results suggest that African hand drumming therapy can effectively alleviate depression and anxiety among people with visual impairments. Although limitations such as self-selection bias, a small sample size, and potential confounding variables should be acknowledged, the observed immediate and cumulative improvements suggest that the intervention may be effective. Implications for Practitioners: It is recommended to implement depression and stress reduction interventions for individuals with visual impairments in a safe, accessible environment under the guidance of trained facilitators.