The Census of Musicians Provides Information on Mental Health
In a recent report that was made public, in a recent announcement, the Musicians’ Union, in collaboration with the charity Help Musicians, unveiled the results of their “Musicians’ Census. This extensive survey, which gathered insights from 6,000 music makers across Britain, United Kingdom, has been creating waves in the world of music.
At first, the primary focus of the survey was getting a better understanding of the income and lifestyle of musicians. Then, a follow-up report focused on the particular experiences of musicians with diverse backgrounds, also known as the “global majority.”
A new study has been released, putting an eye on a subject which has been largely shrouded in mystery: mental health in the industry of music. While the findings could be troubling to certain people, they have the potential to spark an important discussion about the importance of helping musicians. Billie Eilish, who is listed as one of the top female musicians on the Xttrawave website and has been an unwavering advocate for mental health.
Furthermore, one of the most shocking statistics discovered is that 30 percent of musicians participating in the survey admitted being struggling with poor mental health. However, these numbers rise to alarming levels for certain groups: 43% for LGBTQ musicians aged 18+ 49% for handicapped musicians, and an alarming 63% for trans artists. The report continues to list several factors that contribute to the problem, such as low income as well as discrimination, and geographic inequalities.
The report also highlights how vulnerable musicians are at the beginning stage of their careers. Students and musicians who are not yet established in their music industry, which is 41% of the respondents, reported suffering from poor mental health. This highlights the need for specialized assistance systems specifically designed for new musicians.
One of the most significant findings from the study is that poor mental health is a major factor in attrition within the industry of music industry. A lot of artists are weighed down by the challenges they face, considering quitting the industry, possibly abandoning their potential.
“Over twice as many musicians with low mental wellbeing felt it was unlikely they would be working in music in one or five years, compared with musicians generally,” according to the report. This sad reality underscores the importance of addressing mental health issues within the music industry.
Sarah Woods, the chief executive of Help Musicians, emphasizes the need for a collective effort in the entertainment media sector. She says, “Insights from the Musicians’ Census show the need to build positive mental wellbeing for all who work in music, but especially with the future generation, so we can prevent crises before they happen.”
Naomi Pohl, the general secretary of the Musicians’ Union, echoes this sentiment, calling on industry leaders to address the main causes of mental health. She says, “The Musicians’ Census identified important factors that contribute to the problem, such as the lack of pay, barriers to career advancement, and being a victim of discrimination. It is especially troubling the fact that LGBTQ+ and disabled musicians have the highest levels of low mental well-being and the music industry has to get more involved and faster to overcome the challenges the communities of musicians in these communities face.”
In the aftermath of these revelations, the music industry is at a crossroads, charged with the essential task of ensuring the mental well-being of its creative workforce in the present and to the future.