One third of musicians suffer negative mental wellbeing, research finds
The Musicians' Mental Wellbeing Report also revealed those involved in dance scenes are particularly prone to struggling
One-third of UK-based musicians are suffering from poor mental wellbeing, according to a new report, with one-in-four struggling to the point of considering a career change within the next five years.
The most comprehensive study of wellbeing among recording and live artists, the Musicians' Mental Wellbeing report takes in feedback from almost 6,000 individuals, and is the work of the Musicians' Union and Help Musicians. The two organisations recently conducted the first ever Musicians' Census in Britain, the results of which have informed this work.
Although well over one-quarter of musicians working in all styles reported low wellbeing, these issues were most prevalent among people involved in dance scenes (34%), followed by rock and alternative, rap, pop and R&B, and blues and jazz. There were also regional differences, with respondents from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland reporting more difficulties.
Artists in the early stages of their career struggled more than those further down the line, and respondents made it clear that more support is needed, particularly at a young age, emphasising the importance of organisations such as Help Musicians sister charity, Music Minds Matter. Low earnings appear to be another major contributor, as artists earning less than £7,000 per year are twice as likely to have low psychological wellbeing (35%) compared with those on earnings of £55,000 or more (17%). 47% of musicians struggling with mental health are also in debt.
The report has laid bare the disproportionately high level of mental health issues among artists from marginalised communities and backgrounds. The number of musicians who reported negative mental wellbeing increased to 43% among LGBTQ+ musicians and 49% among disabled musicians
You can read the Musicians' Census in full here.
"I believe that at the core of every musician’s life is a deep need to find a stable and wonderful creative mind, but the realities of the industry sometimes don't allow this to happen," said Chris Difford, a double Ivor Novello and Grammy nominated songwriter and musician, and now Principal Ambassador of Music Minds Matter. "Working with likeminded people and sharing how we feel is something I love doing with both Help Musicians and now with Music Minds Matter. I'm very proud to be asked to become an Ambassador.”
“Through Help Musicians’ sister charity, Music Minds Matter, we see firsthand the impact that low mental wellbeing can have on the lives and careers of UK musicians and those who work around them. Insights from the Musicians’ Census show the need to build positive mental wellbeing for all who work in music but especially with the future generation so we can prevent crises before they happen," said Said Sarah Woods, Chief Executive of Help Musicians and Music Minds Matter. "We would encourage everyone working in music to digest this report and work together so we can continue building an industry with positive mental health for all.”
Anyone involved in the music industry who feels they need support should contact Music Minds Matter.
Revisit DJ Mag's 2023 feature on the relationship between ambient music and mental health.
