Music organisations launch musicians’ mental health month

The Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT), Musicians’ Union (MU), Help Musicians and British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) have launched a month-long campaign (1-29 April) designed to raise awareness of the mental health resources available to early career musicians.

The tagline for the campaign, ‘don’t wait till crisis point’, emphasises the value of developing healthy habits in order to improve musicians’ mental health later in their career. The campaign’s programme of free and accessible events and resources includes meditation and coaching is accessible via the YCAT website.

Joe Hastings, head of Help Musicians UK’s dedicated mental health service, Music Minds Matter, said: ‘The early part of a musician’s career can be an exciting time, but it can also present significant challenges… We understand the importance of prioritising self-care to build and maintain emotional wellbeing and to promote happy and healthy careers.’

The MU represents professional and student musicians working in all genres of music. The union currently offers support to early career musicians through its free Young Freelancer’s Guide to Mental Health in the Music Industry (available for non-members).

BAPAM is the largest provider of performing arts medicine in the UK. The charity provides free assessments for performers with health problems affecting their practice as well as a free health education programme. Phoebe Butler, BAPAM training assistant said: ‘Sadly 70-75% of musicians will experience a mental health problem, and this is on the increase since COVID-19.’

Founded in 1984, YCAT supports early career musicians while they transition from education to professional life. Kate Blackstone, project manager at YCAT, said: ‘We are offering mental health support from qualified and experienced practitioners. I really hope that this can be the beginning of musicians’ journeys into maintaining their mental health in a manageable and positive way.’

You can find out more about Young Classical Artists Trust here.

You can find out more about Musicians’ Union here.

You can find out more about Help Musicians here.

You can find out more about British Association for Performing Arts Medicine here.