Support Act to establish new mental health helpline

Support Act is launching a brand new helpline for musicians and those in the music industry, coinciding with World Mental Health Day.

With the support of Albert’s Tony Foundation, the fully-confidential service will seek to tackle the unique challenges faced by local musicians and industry professionals.

Speaking with TMN, Chief Executive for Support Act Joanna Cave believes the challenges people face in this industry are sometimes described as "environmental challenges” but commonly produce traumatic and often life-threatening consequences.

"Working irregular or long hours, mainly at night​; poor rates of pay; the prevalence of performance anxiety; increased exposure to drugs and alcohol and fierce competition would be unusual in many industries but are normal in the music business,” Cave said.  

“Add to this the particular challenges of touring such as disrupted sleep, separation from friends and family, poor diet and low levels of exercise and the risks of mental health problems developing only increase.”

The hotline will launch in the midst of number of tragic losses in the global music industry of late.

Locally, a recent study revealed 25 percent of performing artists and over 50 percent of ‘behind the scenes’ technical and support crews had attempted or considered suicide.

“The 24/7 helpline we are launching will be join our crisis relief service (which Support Act has been offering for 20 years) and our more recent Help A Mate service (which enables artists and music workers to organise a benefit for their music mates in crisis through our charity) which we launched two years ago,” Cave added.

More details are expected to be announced soon.