Mind charity provides support for those in the electronic music industry
Mental health charity Mind launched a series of new digital resources to provide information and support for those in the electronic music industry.
Four resources were made available during Mental Health Awareness Week in May on how those working within the electronic music industry can care for their mental well-being and access support for themselves and their colleagues.
Emma Mamo, head of workplace wellbeing at Mind, said: “Working in the music industry can be very rewarding and offers many opportunities.
“However, it comes with a unique set of challenges, including irregular hours, financial insecurity and high pressure – all of which may have an effect on people’s mental health.”
She cited Covid-19 restrictions and Brexit as factors that have made the existing problems worse.
“For too long, mental health problems, and other related issues like alcohol and substance use within the music industry, have been neglected, and even normalised,” she said.
“Mind’s new resource has been created with contributors from every corner of the music business to make sure the information is as relevant as possible to anyone working within the industry.”
Mental health battles in the industry are not as uncommon as people may expect, with it estimated that musicians may be up to three times more likely to suffer from depression.
Amy Winehouse, rapper Mac Miller and Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington were just three artists who sadly died because of mental health battles.
Katerina Georgiou, an MBACP accredited psychotherapist said despite the deaths of such high-profile artists, the public is not fully aware of the reality of being a musician, but it is never too late for support to come.
“I think those within the industry have long been aware and desiring of change but were powerless to do much previously because of the structures in place that perpetuated some of the issues endemic within the industry,” she said.
“Mental health awareness has increased across the board, and this has made it possible to throw a spotlight on the industries within which mental wellbeing is a big concern.”
The resources launched by Mind were in partnership with leading music and entertainment organisations Ninja Tune, Paradigm, Percolate and POLY.
Each guide includes advice for those affected by the pandemic, tailored towards those working within the industry by aiming to identify and address many of the specific challenges associated with this rewarding but often challenging sector.
Simon Denby from Percolate said working in the industry has been a “massive pleasure”, but it is a “bit of a knife-edge to walk”.
He said: “Feeling like you must be on call 24/7, long days in the office followed by long nights with the temptations that come with it, an attitude that you always have to be 'fun' and 'get stuck in' is draining and when things go wrong it can get dark very fast.
“This is also true for the amazing team around us, our collaborators, artists and everyone else that make the machine work - you have to keep an eye out for everyone and make sure that you are not adding undue pressure.”
Music is used by the public to aid positive mental health and neuro-linguistic programming trainer Rebecca Lockwood said this is because it creates an “intentional representation” in our minds.
She said: “Listening to music can help if you are feeling anxious, depressed or just a bit low. The reason it helps is because it can change the way you are feeling based on the perceptions you create in your mind from the sounds.”
With so many using music as a support, it is time the public start learning to care for the well-being of those in the electronic music industry before we lose another talent.
