The Association For Electronic Music (AFEM) has published a mental health guide for the electronic music industry to coincide with World Mental Health Day which takes place on the 10th October every year. The guide, which can be downloaded here, is an updated version of the Music Managers Forum (MMF) Mental Health Guide and provides general information aimed at everyone who works in the electronic music industry worldwide.
The Guide contains sections on Anxiety & Depression, Alcohol and Substance Abuse/Dependency, Work Balance & Boundaries and The Importance of Sleep. There are some useful self-help guides and links to further information and places to seek help for both those who are suffering and those who want to help colleagues, friends and family.
As the introduction to the Guide points out, ‘Those working in the electronic music industry have all the challenges of regular work along with some that are very specific. Working in the electronic music industry is often fast-paced and highly pressured. For many working to build their career, their passion for the work outweighs its high demands, which can include unsociable hours, low pay, and financial precarity. Depending on the stage of their career, many others may also encounter a relentless work schedule combined with the isolation that comes from being away from home, friends, and family for extended periods whilst touring on the road.’
Pete Tong, BBC Radio 1 personality and dance music tastemaker, Billboard Magazine said, “In my 40 years of being around this world, 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.”
To find out more about World Mental Health Day and mental health in general go to the Mental Health Foundation’s website here.
