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‘Urgent Challenges Requiring Action’: New Report Reveals Canadian Music Industry’s Impact on Mental Health
In the first-ever comprehensive Canadian music mental health study, lead researcher Catherine Harrison details the effects of stress, substance use and financial success on music industry workers across the country — and how we can move forward.
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Researchers are raising a red flag for mental health in the music industry.
A new Revelios [Mental Health Works] report, titled Soundcheck: Mental Health in the Canadian Music Industry, has released its findings, claiming that the industry’s lack of mental health resources has reached a critical tipping point.
Following up on a preliminary report from last May, researchers reveal the "urgent challenges requiring action,” through identifying the key factors leading to mental health issues in the music industry, including financial stress, unrealistic performance expectations and ever-changing industry demands.
The study is billed as the first comprehensive Canadian study of its kind and outlines data from over 1,250 nationwide music professionals — collected through bilingual surveys, focus groups and in-depth interviews. Participants include artists, crew members, managers, venue operators, educators, media professionals, festival staff and executives — affirming that this isn’t just an issue exclusive to musicians, but one that deeply affects the whole music industry.
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“Having our own Canadian baseline data is critical. We often assume things aren't as bad here as elsewhere — this report challenges that assumption directly,” Catherine Harrison, president & founder of Revelios, tells Billboard Canada. “The findings mirror international data on mental health in the music industry, and that should prompt an honest, open conversation about the state of well-being in our own backyard.”
An Industry-Wide Issue
Harrison clarifies that it's not just a problem for artists, but for the entire industry.
“Poor mental health is not an artist problem. It cuts across every role, every type of organization — corporations, nonprofits, freelancers. The entire ecosystem is affected. And until we recognize that, our response will keep falling short.”
Almost unanimously, participants (94%) confirmed that mental health issues are widespread across the industry, with 86% of respondents personally experiencing mental health challenges, while 95% have witnessed others struggling. .
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The majority of symptoms include anxiety, fatigue, persistent sadness and sleep disturbances. Often, these issues aren’t met with the right resources, the report argues. This results in industry professionals feeling burned out, distressed and in extreme circumstances, leading to suicidal ideation, with between 43%-53% of participants feeling that life isn’t worth living, and have considered suicide.
“That's not a footnote. That's a crisis,” Harrison says.
In the study, researchers found that most of the industry’s mental health challenges were linked to the Canadian music industry’s structure and how it currently operates.
As the industry continues to evolve, financial strain and job security are crucial issues, with 84% of participants being directly impacted by inconsistent income. That’s in contrast to the small percentage (5%) of respondents who feel confident with their position in the industry.
Substance use also shows to be a glaring issue. One of the most socialized working industries, it’s embedded in company activities and work settings. But the struggle faces a double-edged stigma as participants express that the use of substances is condemned (86%), but there’s lingering shame (58%) reported around sobriety and/or recovery.
Sleep is a critical area for improvement, too, as only 10% of respondents are getting enough sleep to perform at their best.
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A Need For Action
At a rapid rate, it’s clear that music industry professionals are suffering with their mental health — but it’s the evident absence of industry involvement that deters those respondents from seeking help. While many claim that mental health education is critical (97%), most have never received any formal training (80%) to have an open dialogue on the topic. Only a mere 10% of participants feel their workplace has measures in place to aid with mental health.
“What surprised me was how persistent the stigma still is — around mental health, around substance use, around simply asking for help,” says Harrison. “And paired with that, a very low confidence in industry leadership. Those two things together tell you a lot about why people suffer in silence.”
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To move forward, it’s important to implement strong systems that can keep up with the ever-changing industry. While this report brings awareness to the major industry challenges being faced, it’s only the first step.
“Awareness without action is just information,” says Harrison. She notes that systemic action, building community comprehension and improving existing structures are key elements to ensuring Canadian music industry professionals feel supported.
“Lasting change can't rely solely on formal leadership. We need sector-wide mental health literacy, communication skills, and peer networks so people across all roles can recognize risk early, reduce stigma, and intervene before harm escalates,” she says. “Well-being has to be structural, not individual — built into how the industry operates, not left to people to manage solely on their own.”
Find the full report here.
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Published by ARTSHOUSE MEDIA GROUP (AMG) under license from Billboard Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Media Corporation.
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