Mental health resources for music industry workers are being shared in time for Christmas

A list of mental health resources have been shared to help music industry workers hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

• Read more: Musicians and road crew see rise in depression and anxiety – but help is at hand

One Industry One Voice (OIOV), the coalition of UK events associations and businesses, has shared a list of all the organisations on offer to help to those experiencing stress and mental health issues ahead of the festive season.

“As other industries now begin to return to work, restrictions upon capacities and social distancing [mean] a large number of live events are no longer viable, and the people who organise and deliver them remain out of work,” OIOV said in a statement.

“For many of these people, on furlough, or facing or having been made redundant; those who’ve fallen through the cracks and haven’t had access to financial support; even those still at work in an industry that’s changing, this has been and remains a hugely stressful time with no clear end in sight.

“While there are a number of industry campaigns working towards securing financial support, removing restrictions and helping people get back to work, for lots of people if feels like time is running out and there’s nowhere to turn.”

“If you’re experiencing stress or mental health issues, or if it simply feels like it’s getting too much, it’s important to get help and support, whether this be from a partner, friend, colleague or professional,” the organisation added. “It’s good to talk and it’s important not to suffer alone.”

The full list of organisations are as follows:

Eventwell
Eventwell is a registered community social enterprise set up to be the event industry’s charitable community and support service for mental health and wellbeing. Their website offers a helpline you can contact via email, text or WhatsApp.

Stress Matters
Stress Matters is an events industry-specific workplace wellbeing organisation focused on generating insights, creating accountability and providing support. The website contains links to access to confidential ‘support circles’, running Wednesdays at 8.30pm on Zoom, providing an opportunity to listen, talk and support other industry colleagues. No registration is required: you can jump straight in using meeting ID 82595995950 and password 455098. Buddies Matter, meanwhile, is a free peer-to-peer support scheme for event professionals, particularly freelancers, with the aim of matching people together to provide mutual support.

Hub of Hope, Young Minds and The Mix  are also worth checking out, with the latter pair offering support specifically focusing on young people under 25.

• READ MORE: ‘Am I depressed?’ – help and advice on mental health and what to do next

Music Support
Music Support is a registered charity founded and run by people from the UK music industry for individuals suffering from mental, emotional and behavioural health disorders (including, but not limited to alcohol and drug addiction). The current services offered are a helpline, 0800 030 6789, open Monday–Friday from 9am to 5pm; the Thrive app, for txt-based coaching; Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) training; and a weekly online 12-step support group meeting for industry peers in recovery from addiction.

Back Up Tech
Backup provides financial support to entertainment technology industry professionals who are seriously ill or injured or to their surviving family members. Grants are tailored to each individual and uses can include basic living costs, medical-related expenses, transportation, and funeral expenses.

BAPAM
The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine is a healthcare charity which gives medical advice to people working and studying in the performing arts. BAPAM helps workers overcome work-related health problems and is dedicated to sharing knowledge about healthy practice. BAPAM helps support musicians with free and confidential GP assessment clinics, and referrals to the best treatment available.

Help Musicians
Help Musicians is an independent UK charity for professional musicians offering a 24/7 helpline alongside health and welfare support. The helpline, Music Minds Matter (0808 802 8008) is available any time of day or night.

The Theatrical Guild
A UK charity for backstage and front-of-house workers with over 125 years’ experience helping people. The Theatrical Guild offer practical help at any stage of your career – from welfare and debt advice to financial support and counselling.

Mind
Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. The organisation campaigns to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Mind provides both an ‘Infoline’, which offers callers confidential help for the price of a local call, and a ‘Legal Line’, which provides information on mental health-related law to the public, service users, family members/carers, mental health professionals and mental health advocates.

Samaritans
Samaritans is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a week helpline for workers who are struggling to cope or need someone to listen without judgement or pressure. They can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.

Calm
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (Calm) is leading a movement against suicide. Calm runs a free and anonymous helpline, seven days a week, 365 days a year, from 5pm to midnight. To speak to someone, call 0800 585858 or visit www.thecalmzone.net/help.

Sane
Sane is a leading UK mental health charity working to improve the quality of life for anyone affected by mental illness. Sane provides emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including families, friends and carers. You can leave a message on 07984 967 708, giving your first name and a contact number, and one of Sane’s professionals or senior volunteers will call you back as soon as practicable. You can also email Sane at support@sane.org.uk.

You can also go to OIOV official website here for more information.

The latest announcement comes after leading figures from the UK’s live music industry recently said they found little comfort in Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s job support scheme, claiming that their sector feels “ignored” by both the plans and the government.

FOR HELP AND ADVICE ON MENTAL HEALTH:

• YOUNG MINDS – The voice for young people’s health and wellbeing
• MIND – For mental health support, advice and awareness
• CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably for young men
• Time To Change – Let’s end mental health discrimination
• The Samaritans – Confidential support 24 hours a day

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