Battling against burnout
Hannah Brinley , Music Support ’ s learning and development specialist , is part of the charity ’ s delivery team for Mental Health First Aid . Having spent much of last year training peers at all levels in the music and events industries , Brinley is calling on events professionals to be each other ’ s best source of support
Mental health issues are incredibly common . Research indicates that one in four people experience poor mental health every year , with anxiety , depression and conditions associated with the use of alcohol and drugs being most common . I frequently speak to people about mental health and I ’ ve never met anyone who hasn ’ t been touched by mental ill-health in some way , whether their own experience or that of a friend , colleague or loved one . At Music Support , we believe in change through education , learning and practice . Knowledge , new skills and a change of attitude towards mental health , including how we talk about it , how it is viewed in our industry and how we support those experiencing mental ill-health is vital if we are to thrive . We have trained more than 450 industry peers in Mental Health First Aid ( MHFA ) since 2019 , with more people than ever accessing our courses in 2022 . With employers and freelancers recognising the need to promote better mental health in the music industry as we move out of Covid , our ambition is that every place of work and tour has a mental health first aider .
We spend so much time with our peers , meaning we can be each other ’ s best source of support ( if we know how ). Often people are concerned about someone , but don ’ t have the confidence to approach them , worrying they might say the wrong thing or make the situation worse , and hoping that it will just go away . Sadly , this is rarely the case . The majority of mental health conditions do get better , but people are more likely to recover and see improvements faster with the correct help .
Our MHFA alumni are trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of someone starting to experience poor mental health , and have been equipped with the knowledge , skills and confidence to approach them and offer initial help . This may include encouraging them to seek appropriate professional treatment , but it ’ s also working together to find other forms of support . With the NHS in crisis , waiting lists to see GPs or get referrals can be long , but there are many charities , peer support groups and self-help tools that can make a
Hannah Brinley huge difference to mental health if accessed early enough .
We encourage peers working in music and live events to support one another and build a resilient community . A 10-minute conversation with someone able to listen , without judgement , can , at the very least , improve someone ’ s day but it may even save their life . A simple chat over a cup of tea or a walk around the block might be the start of someone ’ s recovery journey and the difference between them burning out and leaving the industry or staying in a career they love .
All of the above means that I am incredibly hopeful about the years ahead working in this industry . People are talking more openly about mental health ; fighting against the stigma that used to mean we didn ’ t share our struggles and learning how to support one another so we don ’ t lose any more people due to illness that could have been prevented if it had been caught earlier . I can ’ t wait to meet some of you in the training room .
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