Mental health is becoming more and more central to our thinking as a society and in our communities because the impact of poor mental health is serious and affects all involved. That’s no different in music; with more artists and professionals from across music sharing their struggles and paths to recovery, knowing what good mental health looks like for you, how to talk about mental health and how to protect your mental health and wellbeing is integral when you’re trying to navigate an industry that is ‘always on’.
The Musicians’ Census, the first ever census of its kind, published by Help Musicians and the Musicians’ Union, set out the stark reality of how musicians felt about their mental health in 2023. Two key findings were that 30% of musicians reported they experience negative mental wellbeing, and this increased in the student population to 41%. Delving in a bit deeper to the findings, the number of musicians who report negative mental wellbeing increases to 43% of LGBTQ+ musicians and half (49%) of disabled musicians. It increases further still to nearly two-thirds (63%) for those who identify as a gender other than male or female. If that didn’t paint a clear enough picture, amongst musicians who reported having extremely negative mental wellbeing, 42% say it is ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ likely that they will change careers within the next five years.
With stats like these, it makes for a compelling case as to why as an industry, as well as individually, we must take care of ourselves and each other if we are to have a thriving and mentally robust industry.
How to put positive mental health centre stage in music
Putting our personal preferences aside, we all know what does and doesn’t sound good. Similarly, we all know when we feel good or ‘off’. In an industry where there is an expectation to always be at your best, this pressure can be intense and contribute to poor mental health. Protecting our mental health and wellbeing is therefore critical to being able to navigate the highs and lows of working in music. One of the ways we can do this is by building up what feels good, reducing what feels off and getting help when we need it, or put another way, ‘finding our right level’.
Generally, we feel we’re at the right level when we have the right mix of being able to cope with life’s stresses, knowing what our abilities are and using them positively, contributing at work and beyond, when we’re growing and learning as we go, and we are connecting with others. Some of the signs that suggest we’re not at the right level include being tearful, unable to concentrate, more irritable, feeling run down, changes in sleep and/or eating patterns, overthinking and that ‘just not feeling right’ feeling.
Turning things down when we feel overwhelmed
Taking simple actions can help. This can include writing a list of everything on your mind and separating out the things you can and can’t control and act on. Being able to act on what you can control creates a sense of empowerment and reduces the feeling of overwhelm. Prioritising what you can do now and what can wait till later will also help you to feel more in control.
Being able to talk to someone or using mindfulness practices can help slow or stop racing thoughts and overthinking. Remember, don’t feel you have to cope alone. There is always someone you can talk to; the Music Minds Matter helpline is somewhere you can call any time of the day.
Turning up the things that help us to stay well
It’s crucial to be kind to yourself. Everyone is trying to do their best and sometimes we can all fall into less caring patterns when we’re under pressure. The great thing is even small changes can help us to feel more in control.
Quality sleep, physical activity, balanced nutrition, supportive relationships, mindfulness practices and mental health care are all areas that you can attached a practical action to, to help you stay well. From drinking more glasses of water a day to looking after your diet, or exploring meditation or journaling, these are all small manageable steps you can build into your daily routine.
Connect
Talking to others about what you might be experiencing, be that a friend, a relative or a professional, can help contain and manage feelings, and provide reassurance and comfort. Being able to reciprocate and look out for others in music, if you feel able to, helps to destigmatise mental health, change attitudes and behaviours around mental health, but most importantly ensure we all know we have someone to turn to.
You don’t have to be a therapist, just listening, empathising, encouraging, empowering and signposting to other support can be just the conversation your colleague or friend needs in that moment. You don’t need to have all the answers; by listening you are already helping.
We each need to look after our own mental health just as we do our physical health, and you should be supported to do that wherever you find yourself studying or working. If you need support, know that you can speak to the Student Wellbeing Team at BIMM and in the workplace, there is Music Minds Matter who can support and signpost you to other services.
