Music Minds Matter: Mental Health Platform Created For Musicians

In an era where emotional wellbeing needs more attention than ever, the Music Minds Matter platform has launched a new digital mental health space just in time during Mental Health Awareness Week. The Music Minds Matter Explore is a new website providing those in the music industry with help and resources for support in depression, performance anxiety, and many more obstacles they come across. The number of musicians reaching out for help and advice have continued to increase, particularly when lockdown was put in place due to the pandemic and when it was lifted, therefore, the website was created to provide an even better space and a range of resources to aid those who seek it.

According to NME, “musicians seeking counselling through the Music Minds Matter service has increased by 94.4 per cent in 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, with some of the key concerns including financial worries and thoughts of leaving the profession.”

The Head of Music Minds Matter at Help Musicians, Joe Hastings, said, “Music and musicians bring us all enormous joy but as these numbers show, mental health needs within the music industry are continuing to rise. Music Minds Matter Explore has been launched to provide all those working in the sector with a new and additional form of help – adding to the range of services Help Musicians offers in this area. We hope that those using the site will find information to understand their needs better, signposting to support available locally and nationally, plus knowledgeable and supportive voices. The music landscape is ever-changing and we will continue to develop our mental health support for all those who work in music. Sadly, two years of Covid have seriously disrupted careers and we would encourage anyone struggling to get in touch and find the support they need.”

According to Celebrity Access, “Music Minds Matter has seen a considerable rise in requests for support this year, with mental health-related phone calls rising by 30%. In addition, referrals for therapeutic support to the charity’s partner, the British Association Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM), have doubled. The increase in numbers is said to be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Claire Cordeaux, CEO of BAPAM, said, “Help Musicians have provided amazing support through the helpline and by supporting therapy, and this new website provides access to further resources and information which can support all musicians to find out more about services available both general and music industry-specific, self-care techniques and hear from experts about their specialist areas of mental health knowledge. Sadly, we expect the need for services to continue for some time, and Help Musicians are really rising to this challenge.”

Check out the Music Minds Matter Explore website for further information.