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Welcome to the Support Act Guide to Mental Health and Wellbeing – 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 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.
THE 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.
Anxiety
People working in the music industry experience up to 10 x the rate of moderate to severe anxiety compared to the general population.
Alcohol and Drugs
In the absence of support, resilience or healthy coping strategies, misuse of alcohol and drugs can cause you harm.
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.
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.
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.
Self Care
Without a plan on how to take care of yourself, you’re prone to becoming overwhelmed, apathetic, disconnected and experience burnout.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness allows us to develop a greater understanding of ourselves, of our surroundings and the countless ways these two interact.
Sleep
Sleep is one of the non-negotiables when it comes to physical and mental wellbeing. There’s nothing glamorous about being exhausted.
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.
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.
Seeking 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.
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
Tune Ups is a high impact, intimate and revealing video series on mental health with Australian music heroes, including Support Act Mental Health Advocates Brendon Love (The Teskey Brothers), Sahara Herald (Frontier Touring) and Fanny Lumsden.
Sound Check is a web series that began in mid-2020 in response to the crippling impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to encourage positive mental health and wellbeing amongst the music industry, and features conversations with experts in mental, physical and social wellbeing, and a selection of artists, crew workers and music industry pros impacted by the industry shutdown.
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.
RECENT ARTICLES
WORKPLACE RESOURCES
Looking for some resources around mental health and safety in the workplace? Check out SafeWork NSW’s website here.