2022 Appeal
Organised by Music SupportPlease help us to continue providing vital support to those who work in music and live events affected by mental ill-health and/or addiction in this time of immediate need.
Story
Music and live events continue to be hit hard by the uncertainty, fear, isolation and financial consequences of Covid 19. From musicians and DJs to promoters and crew, the way back is still very unclear. Music Support, the charity that helps those who work in music and live events affected by mental ill-health and/or addiction conducted a recent industry-wide survey to understand our peers' mental health challenges during the pandemic and beyond. The results were concerning, including 77% who said they felt regularly lonely or isolated and 90% who said they didnt think there was enough support available in music and/or live events for people with mental health and/or addiction problems.
Consequently, during the pandemic, Music Support experienced a 60% increase in volume to our confidential Helpline with more people experiencing crisis and reliant on drugs and alcohol to get through the day and numb their poor mental health.
If you work in music and live events and are experiencing mental health or addiction challenges, you are not alone. Music Support is here for you. Our team have all been affected personally by these issues and have seen their friends, colleagues and heroes lose their careers, families and even their lives.
We empower our peers to look after the wellbeing of their colleagues (and themselves) through training in Mental Health First Aid and Addiction & Recovery to prevent them reaching crisis point but, if required, our confidential Helpline, managed by industry peers with lived experience, is available Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm on 0800 030 6789. We offer a non-judgmental listening ear service through to referrals to expert clinicians and care providers for everything from mental health and addiction assessments to therapy and rehab.
85% of our beneficiaries told us that our support helps them feel less lonely. For further details on Music Support please visit www.musicsupport.org or contact us on info@musicsupport.org.
Find out more about us by watching this short film
All funds raised really do make a huge difference to our beneficiaries:
- £10 could help us to answer a call that could save someone's life
- £100 could contribute towards the cost of a clinical assessment to determine the treatment required for a beneficiary
- £250 could contribute towards a bursary so that Music Support can provide free mental health or recovery training for an industry freelancer
- £1,000 could contribute towards the cost of a Safe Hub backstage at festivals
- £5,000 could contribute towards a beneficiary's detox and residential treatment
"I have been trying to get my son help for the last six years. What you have done in the last two weeks is more than anyone has ever done for us. We cant thank you enough". Beneficiary
"Two weeks on from Norman and Rachel's amazing talk and workshop on addiction and Music Support, the students are still buzzing from what they have learnt and the impact in them has been significant. The great combination of honest, information, lived experience and facts was so powerfully delivered. You literally changed peoples' lives in that session." Stuart Worden, Principal, The BRIT School
"Very grateful to be clean and sober today and very grateful for all of your help and the help of Music Support. Thank you!" Beneficiary
"I honestly needed this workshop as I've been working with some people who are really struggling. It was a breath of fresh air to take a step back and look at the information without emotional attachment." Participant, Addiction & Recovery workshop
"I just want to say you have been so incredible through this journey, thank you so much. You dont know me and didnt need to help in the way you did, but in a dark time, you were a constant non-judging support and I feel so grateful to you." Beneficiary
"This course was amazing, and Norman was such an inspirational and motivational course leader. Its a course that I truly believe everyone should do as its so important.... We were a group from the music and events industries and the case studies had been adapted to be relevant to that which was an extremely helpful touch as it really helped me to consider scenarios that were similar to ones I have seen in the past and frequently. This course has not only helped me in my ability to support peoples mental health going forward but also my own and how to better look after myself (particularly when supporting others) Thank you very much". Participant, Mental Health First Aid training
"There is no doubt in my mind that without what you guys do I wouldn't be here". Josh Franceschi, Musician, You Me At Six
With your help, we can make 2022 a better year for our peers. Thank you for your support.