Friday, 5 February 2021: With funding support from the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts, Support Act is now providing free and tailored Mental Health First Aid training to musicians around Australia, at a time of real need and heightened distress for anyone who makes a career out of music.

Support Act CEO, Clive Miller, said that the training is a great way for anyone who works in music to gain the knowledge and skills to better manage their own mental health, and those around them.

“COVID-19 is clearly having a huge impact, and nowhere more so than in the music industry. By providing access to free MHFA training, we believe we can make a major change to the overall mental health and wellbeing of the entire industry.

“We have been overwhelmed by the interest shown to date, with an initial fifty spots snapped up in December, and nearly a hundred more for our first intake of 2021.”

The Support Act Mental Health First Aid program is available to members and staff of: APRA AMCOS, ARIA, PPCA, ALMBC, Music Victoria, Music NSW, QMusic, Music SA, Music NT, WAM, MusicTas, Music ACT, Sony Music Australia and Warner Music Australia.

It aims to train participants in how to better recognise common health issues, provide initial help using a practical, evidence-based Action Plan, respond in a mental health crisis situation and how to seek appropriate professional help.

“Our goal is to provide training to as many people across the industry as possible,” Miller added. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity and to help us to really move the needle when it comes to creating a mentally healthy music industry. If you are not one of the organisations listed above, and would like to participate, please contact us.”

Support Act’s Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is delivered in partnership with creative mental health training organisation MakeShift, and is now open for registrations.

Additional Support Act funded MHFA training is available to artist managers via the Association of Artist Managers’ Gimme Shelter program, and to crew via the CrewCare MHFA program.

Support Act provides an ever-expanding, holistic suite of industry-wide services and programs including:

• Support Act Wellbeing Helpline 1800 959 500 (Option 2) – a free, 24/7 telephone counselling service for anyone in the music or arts industry
• First Nations Dedicated Support Line – 1800 959 500 (Option 3) – a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music workers to discuss their mental health
• Manager Support Hotline – 1800 959 500 (Option 4) – a consultative service for artist managers and team leaders who are providing support to music and arts workers in relation to their mental health and wellbeing
• On My Mind online workshop series
• Sound Check interview series
• Crisis Relief financial support for artists, crew and music workers doing it tough.

For more information on assistance available, or to find out how to help Support Act, go to supportact.org.au.