Music mental health charities launch Behind The Scenes initiative

Mental health social enterprise Headstock have teamed up with music mental health charity Music Support for Behind The Scenes, a new initiative to support those working in the music industry.

Announced today, World Mental Health Day, the project will offer weekly peer support groups for individuals working in music to connect and share their own experiences.

Welcoming the likes of artists, management, agents, crew and promoters, as well as those working for festivals, labels and venues, the groups will provide a chance to build community, with the purpose of tackling mental health issues.

kurt cobain — Kurt Cobain mural painted by Akse on the Bread Shed (Manchester, 2024) in collaboration with Headstock in support of mental health charity SHOUT
Credit: based on photo supplied by Mark Webb / Avalon
Mural supported by Skiddle

Supported by AO Arena, the support sessions will take place at venues across the city, including Band On The Wall, Gorilla, Lion’s Den and YES.

Groups will be small and intimate, in order to promote honest conversations, and will be lead by a Music Support facilitator with lived experiences of mental health issues in the industry. The group discussions will be followed by an informal hangout opportunity, followed by complimentary refreshments.

With a focus on wellbeing and lived experience rather than clinical interventions, the purpose of the group sessions is to nurture a stronger, more supportive music community.

By connecting people with each other, the goal of Behind The Scenes is to remind anyone working within the industry that they are not alone, and through mutual support and shared experiences, they can boost their confidence, whilst helping regain a sense of belonging.

Joe Hastings, CEO, Music Support said: “I am so pleased to see these new services coming to fruition, social isolation is a massive and under reported issue in our industry and I am passionate about the need to create new spaces for peers to listen and be listened to surrounding any challenges.

“Working with like-minded partners like Headstock is incredibly positive, this new service will become a vital part of a future thriving music community in the North West.”

Behind The Scenes will launch with a four week pilot across Manchester in November. You can find out more here.