AFEM releases The Electronic Music Industry Guide to Mental Health
The guide coincides with mental health day, 10 October.
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Eleonora Cecchini / Getty Images
The Association For Electronic Music (AFEM) have released a mental health guide for people involved in the electronic music industry. The guide is designed to provide support and solutions to tackle mental health issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol and substance abuse and more. The AFEM have coincided this release alongside World Mental Health Day, 10 October.
The Electronic Music Industry Guide To Mental Health has been created amid the challenges that a career in the music industry can often entail. The electronic music industry can be fast-paced and come with a heavy workload, often demanding too much of its workers and artists. Unsociable hours, working in isolation, low pay and financial precarity is also a commonality among those looking to follow their passions in the industry.
AEFM’s guide states that “one of the key messages contained in this Guide is to signal that it is ok to talk about mental health, to highlight how common it is to experience mental health issues, and also that there is help and support available if times get tough for you”. Throughout the guide, different issues are described, with a list of signs and symptoms, ways to help yourself, ways to help other people and a list of further reading.
Struggles with mental health have been highlighted by artists in the past; Motor City Drum Ensemble gives an in-depth account of his experience in Between The Beats: Motor City Drum Ensemble, and Pete Tong has been quoted stating “I can’t think of a single person who has achieved success who hasn’t paid a personal price via health, relationships, divorce, broken homes, addiction, depression and anxiety”.
The industry has been taking the issue of mental health seriously, offering support in various forms. Tap Music, for example, aim to raise £100K for mental health charities, with support from Dua Lipa and Professor Green.
To find out more about Mental Health in music, you can email health@afemorg.net. It’s also worth checking out Key Changes, Help Musicians, and Music Minds Matter.
