UK musicians get 24/7 mental health support line

Following on from a similar service in New Zealand, UK musicians and music industry workers can now access a 24/7 mental health support line and service provided by the country’s music industry. 

The comprehensive service, Music Minds Matter, was launched overnight by independent music charity, Help Musicians UK (HMUK).

It offers listening and emotional support, advice on getting a diagnosis, signposting to additional services (including addiction, eating disorders, sexual harassment and homelessness) clinical pathways and professional therapeutic services, including counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). 

In a first for the British music industry, it also provides access to the charity’s grant funding, and individuals may also access advice on legal issues, debt and welfare benefits.

Last year, HMUK’s Health & Welfare team experienced a 22% increase in requests for help from musicians across the UK, and the charity spent a total of £1.9 million helping these individuals.

In response to this, HMUK commissioned the University of Westminster and MusicTank to undertake the world’s largest academic study into mental health and the music industry. 

The findings of the report Can Music Make You Sick? led to HMUK’s pledge to launch the Music Minds Matter service by this month, as well as initiate the music industry’s first Mental Health Taskforce in collaboration with music industry partners, organisations and stakeholders.

Richard Robinson, CEO, HMUK said: “Help Musicians UK is uniquely positioned as a charity to coordinate, lead and support those working in music with mental health challenges.

“With 96 years of experience, we understand the complexity of being a musician and recognise the need for support that reflects the nature of the business, whilst providing a personalised service tailored to each person we help.

“Music Minds Matter is a first for the British music industry and the biggest ever undertaking by HMUK.

“We are earmarking just under £1 million over the next four years and we fully expect the service to grow and evolve.

“However, this can only happen in close consultation and collaboration with the music industry and those organisations already providing mental health support.

“This is why a fully engaged Music Industry Mental Health Taskforce is also a prerequisite and catalyst for real change and understanding.” 

While HMUK crowd-sourced some of the funding for its services, some artists have suggested that record companies should also provide money for their acts “to protect their investment” and to regard acts as label employees to get such benefits.