Mental Health Resources for the Music Industry

Welcome to Support Act’s Mental Health Resources for the Music Industry – a regularly updated resource of evidence-based information, articles, videos, plus app and book recommendations, specifically curated for those who work in music.

Whether you want to learn how to give or get help, look after your own wellbeing or hear how others in the music community have overcome challenges, this guide is for you. If you need additional support contact the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline now on 1800 959 500.

In December 2022, we unveiled the second part of the research into Service Use, Effects and Social Return On Investment.

The Support Act Guide to...

Support Act guide to Touring

Touring and being on the road for extended periods of time can be an exciting and memorable experience. However, it can be challenging to stay grounded.

Support Act guide to Suicide

Suicide is a confronting and difficult topic that can be difficult to navigate. There are many factors that can increase someone’s risk of suicide.

Support Act guide to Grief & Loss

One of the hardest parts of being human is grappling with loss. Grief is the natural response that shows up in the wake of that loss.

Support Act guide to Trauma

Trauma is a disruptive and destabilising experience that may appear in the wake of confronting something perceived as a threat to your safety or the safety of others.

Support Act guide to Resilience

Resilience is the ability to respond and adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy or major sources of stress–such as family and relationship problems, health issues or workplace and financial stressors.

Support Act guide to Social Media

In an industry that relies heavily on social media to help build audiences, share content and promote events, it’s worth developing a relationship with social media that is healthy, mindful and empowered.

Support Act guide to Sleep

Sleep is one of the non-negotiables when it comes to physical and mental wellbeing. There’s nothing glamorous about being exhausted.

Support Act guide to Loneliness

A life in the music industry can mean long periods away from home and working unsociable hours. For many, loneliness is a gateway to poor physical and mental health.

Support Act guide to Mindfulness

Mindfulness allows us to develop a greater understanding of ourselves, of our surroundings and the countless ways these two interact.

Support Act guide to Self Care

Without a plan on how to take care of yourself, you’re prone to becoming overwhelmed, apathetic, disconnected and experience burnout.

Support Act guide to Stress

Sometimes life gets a little too much for us to hack and its times like these we need to get brave, reach out and ask for help or support.

Support Act guide to Managing Conflict

Conflict is bound to happen to some extent, but how much it impacts your life can be down to how you manage it.

Support Act guide to Alcohol and Drugs

In the absence of support, resilience or healthy coping strategies, misuse of alcohol and drugs can cause you harm.

Support Act guide to Giving & Getting Help

Sometimes life gets a little too much for us to hack. It’s times like these we need to get brave, reach out and ask for help or support.

Support Act guide to Anxiety

People working in the music industry experience up to 10 x the rate of moderate to severe anxiety compared to the general population.

Support Act guide to Depression

There are lots of things that can cause depression – working in the music industry and all the stresses that come with it can increase the risk.

This Way Up

Australian music industry workers have FREE ACCESS to THIS WAY UP‘s range of evidence-based and effective online treatment programs that are designed to teach you proven psychological skills to transform your thoughts, feelings and behaviours so you can make positive changes in your life.

Use code TURNITUP for free access.

Video series

Use code TURNITUP for free access.

Events

Check out our latest life-saving mental health programs and events, including Mental Health First Aid Training, Workplace Wellbeing Check-Ins, On My Mind open access webinars and Yarning Strong webinars specifically for First Nations music workers.

Videos

Watch our latest On My Mind and Yarning Strong sessions here.

Play Video

Yarning Strong – Keeping Mob Mentally Healthy

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On My Mind – Being Black In Australian Music

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On My Mind – Battling With Big Feelings

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On My Mind – Sober Curious?

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On My Mind – Social Anxiety

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Yarning Strong – Navigating Life and Media Online

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Yarning Strong – Traditional/Cultural Healing

Play Video

Yarning Strong – Traditional/Cultural Healing

Workplace resources

Looking for some resources around mental health and safety in the workplace?

Check out SafeWork NSW’s website here and WorkSafe QLD’s website here.

Monash University Report: Examining Sexual Violence in the Music City of Greater Melbourne.

Mental Health Resources for the Music Industry

Choose an Option

The Support Act Guide to...

Support Act guide to Touring

Support Act guide to Suicide

Support Act guide to Grief & Loss

Support Act guide to Trauma

Support Act guide to Resilience

Support Act guide to Social Media

Support Act guide to Sleep

Support Act guide to Loneliness

Support Act guide to Mindfulness

Support Act guide to Self Care

Support Act guide to Stress

Support Act guide to Managing Conflict

Support Act guide to Alcohol and Drugs

Support Act guide to Giving & Getting Help

Support Act guide to Anxiety

Support Act guide to Depression

This Way Up

Video series

Events

Videos

Yarning Strong – Keeping Mob Mentally Healthy

On My Mind – Being Black In Australian Music

On My Mind – Battling With Big Feelings

On My Mind – Sober Curious?

On My Mind – Social Anxiety

Yarning Strong – Navigating Life and Media Online

Yarning Strong – Traditional/Cultural Healing

Yarning Strong – Traditional/Cultural Healing

Recent articles

Inside the Mind of Maggie Rigby

Connection and Collaboration – Nikita Karmen

Inside the Mind of Emily Wurramara

Workplace resources