Ruby’s story

Please note that the story below contains mentions of self harm and suicide.

Music therapy gave Ruby a safe space to express herself, when she needed it most.

Ruby is 17 years old. She has an amazing sense of humour and loves to bake, listen to music and play her bass. She is also autistic and has ADHD, and lives with a complexity of mental health issues. In 2022, life became unbearable for Ruby. And at only 14 years old, she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act due to suicide attempts, self-harm and unpredictable behaviour. She then spent the next six months in a hospital 80 miles from home.

The hospital environment was very unpredictable, so Ruby found comfort listening to music with her earphones to help block out the sounds. She watched Eurovision, where previous winner Måneskin performed as part of the final. Ruby immediately connected with their bassist, and soon the love for a new band and their music took hold. It was clear that music was having a positive effect on her, so her parents bought her a bass and she began to teach herself to play.

After being discharged from hospital, life wasn’t easy for Ruby, and she was still very unwell. The therapy offered to her didn’t seem to be working and she also found it hard to trust those who were trying to support her.  She returned to hospital more than once due to continuing suicide attempts.

Ruby’s mum, Bev, referred her to music therapy with Nordoff and Robbins. She hadn’t heard of music therapy before but remembered an article her husband had sent her about our Carol Concert and our music therapy work. Bev met with one of our music therapists and explained that nothing seemed to be helping Ruby.

Ruby began a weekly session with one of our music therapists, Jered. Music therapy provided her with a safe space, free from the pressure of a clinical environment and supported by Jered. Ruby always wanted to go to music therapy and would leave the sessions calmer and happier.

It was the happiest I’d seen her for a very long time.

Bev, Ruby’s mum

Music therapy helped Ruby start to believe in herself. Now, she continues to grow her skills on the bass, supported by a local recording studio who provide a space for young people to develop their musical talents. She’s also working towards gaining an arts award and rehearses weekly in a band. The support and nurture that Ruby received in her music therapy sessions, her mum Bev says, was vital in getting her to this point.

I can honestly say hand on my heart that discovering Nordoff and Robbins helped save our beautiful girl from what looked like a very difficult future. That’s even if she had a future.

Bev, Ruby’s mum

Thank you to Ruby and her mum Bev, for sharing her story at the O2 Silver Clef Awards 2024.