A Conversation About Mental Health in Music
“Without being able to publicly talk about it at the time, that nearly ended my career or our band’s career, perhaps, when we were writing our second album. And I kind of, was not in a very good place.”
According to research by Entertainment Assist, the rate of attempted suicide in the entertainment industry is more than double the rest of the population.
To open up the conversation around mental health, Poppy Reid chats to Mark Callaghan (of The Riptides, Gang Gajang), who is also the Advisor of member services at APRA AMCOS and a Board member at music industry charity Support Act. Also joining Poppy is Hayley Mary, frontwoman of ARIA and APRA Award winning band The Jezabels.
Disclaimer: This podcast episode is a discussion only and certainly not a ‘how-to’ for those looking for a guide on how to deal with mental health issues.
If you think you might be as risk or need professional help, please see below for some information on available facilities and resources.
Beyond Blue
The Beyond Blue website contains a huge amount of information on depression, anxiety and related disorders. The site has simple checklists (that are quick, easy, and anonymous) to help ascertain whether you or someone you know is feeling down or stressed or whether it’s depression, anxiety or a related disorder www.beyondblue.org.au
Mental Health Information Service
The Mental Health Information Service provide information about anxiety, depression and mental illness, as well as ways to boost your mental health. They also run support groups for people with anxiety disorders www.mentalhealth.asn.au
Lifeline
Lifeline offer crisis support over the phone (13 11 14) and online (7 PM to 4 AM). Their website has an online crisis support chat plus information including self-help resources, a local service finder directory and helpful links to other services and information. www.lifeline.org.au/Find-Help/Find-Help/default.aspx
Black Dog Institute
The Black Dog Institute is a not-for-profit, educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in depression and bipolar disorder www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
R U OK?
The R U OK? website has information on the R U OK program and lots of free resources that you can use within your place of work, community, school or club.
ARAFMI (the Association of Relatives And Friends of the Mentally Ill)
ARAFMI is a community organisation of families’, carers and friends of people living with a mental illness which encourages an active membership from among all of the diverse communities of NSW, which is informed by their experiences and provides support, education and advocacy in order to help them effectively fulfil their caring role.
More than 100,000 music creators rely on APRA AMCOS to get paid when their music is used. Australasia’s leading music rights management organisation licenses organisations to play, perform, copy or record music, and distributes the royalties to its members. APRA AMCOS. Made by music.
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