Help Musicians launches online mental health platform

UK music charity Help Musicians has launched digital mental health platform Music Minds Matter Explore to cope with musicians’ rising demand for mental health support as a result of the pandemic.

The platform will offer mental health help and guidance for those working in the music industry, including video content from mental health experts as well as from industry members who have faced mental health challenges.

Joe Hastings, head of Music Minds Matter at Help Musicians, said: ‘The music landscape is ever-changing, and we will continue to develop our mental health support for all those who work in music. Sadly, two years of Covid have seriously disrupted careers and we would encourage anyone struggling to get in touch and find the support they need.’

The Music Minds Matter Explore service has been launched in response to a rise in requests for support this year with phone calls to Help Musicians’ mental health support line Music Minds Matter rising by 34% and demand for therapeutic support doubling.

Claire Cordeaux, CEO of Help Musicians’ clinical partner, British Association Performing Arts Medicine, said: ‘Rates of poor mental health have always been high in the musician population and COVID has had a significant impact. With increased financial pressures, lack of work opportunities and uncertainty about the future, many more musicians have been seeking help… Sadly, we expect the need for services to continue for some time and Help Musicians are really rising to this challenge.’

Help Musicians is a UK-based music charity that offers support to music creators in times of crisis and opportunity with an aim to ensure that UK musicians achieve their creative potential and are able to pursue a career in music.

Music Minds Matter Explore was developed with the help of mental health and wellbeing platform provider Frog Systems. The Music Minds Matter line also is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 0808 802 8008