Publication Date
Spring 5-26-2025
Item Type
Text
Executive Summary
Reducing Stress Through Music and Meditation: A Low-Barrier Mental Health Intervention for Unhoused Women in Shelter Settings
Seven nursing students from Seattle Pacific University partnered with a women’s day center in downtown Seattle to support unhoused women experiencing chronic stress and systemic inequalities. The center serves as a safe and welcoming space where women can access essential services including hot meals, hygiene facilities, healthcare connections, and case management, all while fostering a sense of dignity, community, and personal agency. Many clients faced significant trauma and housing insecurity, which contributed to ongoing stress and health challenges, conditions often compounded by social determinants of health and limited access to mental health resources (King County, 2025; Mar et al., 2021). As part of our clinical experience, we sought to understand these challenges more deeply and explore how nursing students could support client wellness in a meaningful and sustainable way. This paper will describe the context of our partnership, the needs we identified through engagement with clients and staff, and the nursing-based intervention we implemented in response.
Background
In King County, over 40,000 individuals are currently experiencing homelessness, and 15% of those identify as Black/African American (King County Regional Homelessness Authority, 2024). Among these individuals, 34% of adults suffer from mental illness, highlighting the urgent need for accessible mental health support within this population. A local Pacific Northwest homeless shelter serves as a critical daytime drop-in center for women navigating the challenges of homelessness. These women are often impacted by the cumulative effects of social determinants of health (SDOH), including limited access to stable housing, employment, transportation, and healthcare. These ongoing barriers increase the risk of chronic stress, depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions (The Seattle Times, 2024).
A study by Ket La Mar et al. (2021) emphasizes that both barriers and facilitators related to accessing mental healthcare play a crucial role in either hindering or supporting mental health recovery among homeless women with serious mental illness. Compounding the issue, many women experiencing homelessness remain hidden, often avoiding shelters or staying in unstable situations as a means of self-protection, an observation supported by existing literature on the invisibility and vulnerability of this population (Milaney et al., 2020). In response, our community health initiative is grounded in the belief, supported by participant feedback and aligned with trauma-informed care approaches, that small, consistent acts of care, such as music-guided meditation, may contribute to improved mental well-being. These low-barrier interventions offer a calming space for healing, especially when participants are encouraged to continue them independently within the shelter setting (YWCA Seattle King Snohomish, 2025).
Activities with Rationale
Our project involved facilitating a 30-minute weekly music and meditation coping group for clients at a women’s shelter. Each session began with calming music to establish a welcoming, grounded environment, followed by a brief guided meditation focused on breathwork, mindfulness, or body awareness. Designed to be low-barrier, non-invasive, and trauma-informed, the group aimed to empower clients to participate in safe and supportive ways. These activities were chosen based on responses to our first surveys, which showed that the most commonly favored coping mechanisms were meditation and music. This approach ensured that the intervention reflected client-identified needs and aligned with their preferences.
We implemented a weekly 30-minute coping group centered on music and meditation, informed by the preferences clients expressed during our initial assessment period. This low-barrier, trauma-informed intervention began with calming music and transitioned into brief guided meditation practices focused on breathwork and grounding. Both components were selected for their accessibility and potential to promote relaxation without requiring verbal disclosure. Research supports the use of music and meditation as therapies for individuals dealing with stress from trauma and mental health issues. Studies show that music-based interventions can reduce anxiety, depression, and stress while fostering emotional expression and resilience, especially when verbal processing may be retraumatizing (Zhao et al., 2024; Jamil et al., 2023; Maiti, 2017). Meditation practices have similarly demonstrated effectiveness in improving emotional regulation and coping abilities among populations experiencing high psychosocial stress. These evidence-based strategies were essential in guiding the structure of our intervention to ensure it was both meaningful and safe for participants.
To evaluate the impact of our intervention and inform sustainable improvements, we distributed pre- and post-session surveys assessing participants' emotional states. This data collection process facilitates the measurement of perceived stress levels and emotional well-being over time. By offering a consistent space for relaxation and self-regulation, the intervention supports our SMART goal: reducing perceived stress and enhancing coping, with at least 65% of participants reporting a positive emotional effect after each session.
Outcomes
Over an 8-week community health rotation, we implemented and evaluated a low-barrier music and meditation group to reduce stress and support emotional well-being among unhoused women. Two days were dedicated to assessment through surveys, with another two focused on rapport-building through informal activities. Initial surveys revealed higher stress levels in the mornings and a strong interest in music and meditation for relaxation, clarity, and connection, confirming the intervention met participants' needs.
Eight women participated in two 30-minute sessions over two weeks, featuring calming music and guided mindfulness exercises centered on breathwork and deep relaxation. Pre-session surveys showed that 87% of participants reported feeling stressed, and 75% had prior exposure to similar practices. Participants were motivated by connection and curiosity, with relaxation and mental clarity as secondary goals. Post-session evaluations indicated that 60% experienced significant stress reduction, with meditation rated as the most helpful component, followed by music. Others reported neutral or minimal change. Participants also valued the quiet and communal atmosphere. One woman shared, “I feel more connected with myself and my energy. I needed that.” Seven participants desired to continue the group, indicating a strong interest in making it a regular wellness service. Although a few declined participation due to fatigue or personal preferences, and occasional space limitations posed minor challenges, the intervention met our SMART goal of reducing perceived stress and promoting emotional well-being.
Conclusion
We successfully partnered with a women’s day center to support the mental health of women experiencing homelessness through a trauma-informed wellness program using music and meditation. Guided by client feedback, we created a low-barrier space for stress relief and emotional regulation. Despite initial rapport challenges, intentional relationship-building fostered meaningful connections. While attendance and emotional readiness varied, participation and positive feedback affirmed the program’s impact. By centering client-identified needs, we delivered an intervention that strengthened coping skills, offered tools for continued well-being, and provided deliverables to promote sustained resource access and community engagement, emphasizing the value of accessible, sustainable, and evidence-informed mental health interventions tailored to the complex needs of underserved communities.
References
Jamil, A., Gutlapalli, S. D., Ali, M., Oble, M. J. P., Sonia, S. N., George, S., Shahi, S. R., Ali, Z., Abaza, A., & Mohammed, L. (2023). Meditation and its mental and physical health benefits in 2023. Cureus, 15(6), e40650. https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/156473/20240724-319105-6zhq57.pdf
King County (2025). About homelessness and its impact in King County. https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/health-centers-programs-services/health-services-for-the-homeless/healthcare-for-the-homeless/about-us#:~:text=About%20homelessness%20and%20its%20impact,family%20to%20avoid%20the%20streets
King County Regional Homelessness Authority (2024). Point in time count. https://kcrha.org/community-data/king-county-point-in-time-count/
Maiti, R. (2017). Meditation, A Highly Powerful Tool to Enhance the Productivity and Happiness of Life in Modern World. International Journal of Bio-Resource & Stress Management, 8(2), 360–368. https://research.ebsco.com/c/4cjrct/viewer/pdf/qbwvme7dvn?route=details
Mar, K. L., Mizock, L., Veazey, C., & Nelson, A. (2021). Mental health care barriers and facilitators experienced by homeless women with serious mental illness. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 32(1), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2021.1967646
Milaney, K., Williams, N., Lockerbie, S. L., Dutton, D. J., & Hyshka, E. (2020). Recognizing and responding to women experiencing homelessness with gendered and trauma-informed care. BMC Public Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-8353-1
Zhao, N., Lund, H. N., & Jespersen, K. V. (2024). A systematic review and meta-analysis of music interventions to improve sleep in adults with mental health problems. European psychiatry: the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 67(1), e62. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.1773
Recommended Citation
Katumo, Joan; Johnson, Fiona; Tanner, Jenny; Salazar, Jamilah; Richards, Malica; Sheikh, Hanna; and Nguyen, My, "Reducing Stress Through Music and Meditation: A Low-Barrier Mental Health Intervention for Unhoused Women in Shelter Settings" (2025). Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects. 62.
https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/shs_nlce/62
Copyright Status
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Additional Rights Information
Copyright held by authors, except where otherwise noted.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Included in
