Mental Health in the Music Industry: Addressing a Growing Crisis

The recent call from the British Psychological Society for better mental health support for performing artists highlights a longstanding issue: the music industry is facing a mental health crisis. Academic research, together with the many tragic stories shared in the media, highlights the profound emotional and psychological challenges that many artists and industry professionals face.

As an occupational psychologist working in the music industry, I am particularly interested in how work pressures, the work environment, and working conditions contribute to poor mental health and what can be done about this. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach - one that not only provides better psychological support to individuals, but also tackles systemic issues within the industry itself.

Artists Under Strain

Performing artists are often perceived as living the dream, pursuing their passion and sharing their talent with the world. However, behind all this, many struggle with intense pressures. The expectation to deliver flawless performances, the financial instability, and the demands of constant touring all take a toll on mental health. Irregular sleep patterns, performance anxiety, and the need to maintain public personas can lead to exhaustion, stress, and burnout. Additionally, the culture of the music industry can sometimes normalise substance use and self-medication as coping mechanisms, further exacerbating mental health struggles. 

The lack of protection and support in relation to mental health and wellbeing, especially for young artists catapulted into the spotlight, has been highlighted. 

Behind the Scenes: Mental Health in Other Music Industry Roles

While performing artists often receive the most attention when discussing mental health, it is important to recognise that other roles within the industry are also deeply affected. Sound engineers, tour managers, producers, and music festival teams for example, often work long hours under intense pressure. Recording studios can be high-stress environments with tight deadlines and demanding clients. And grassroots music venues - essential to the industry's ecosystem - face financial struggles that create job insecurity for many workers. 

Festivals, while celebratory in nature, require exhausting input from event organisers, security staff, and technical crews, many of whom face temporary or precarious employment.

Systemic Change: Addressing the Root Causes

Improving mental health in the music industry requires a comprehensive approach that includes not only accessible psychological support, but also systemic changes that address the root causes of stress and burnout. 

Some key areas for change include:

• Localised Approaches: To create a healthier industry, we must first understand the specific issues and stressors that affect individuals in different work environments, allowing for targeted and context specific interventions. What works for an engineer in a recording studio, may not work for a producer, or for a composer.
• Healthier Working Practices: Creating work schedules that prioritise rest, recovery, wellbeing, and balanced workloads for all industry professionals - not just performing artists - can help prevent burnout and improve long-term mental health.
• Accessible Mental Health Support: More targeted support services, including industry-specific psychological therapy and peer support programs, should be made widely available and de-stigmatised.

Moving Forward

The call for better mental health support in the music industry is a crucial step in the right direction, but meaningful progress will require collaboration from artists and their representatives, industry leaders, policymakers, industry charities, mental health professionals and beyond. By acknowledging and addressing the systemic challenges within the industry, we can create a more sustainable and supportive environment over time for all those who contribute to the world of music.

The conversation around mental health in the music industry must continue, with a shared commitment to creating lasting change. 

Words: BPS Chartered member Dr Susannah Robertson-Hart