The charity Help Musicians conducted the first ever UK Musicians Census, involving nearly 6000 UK musicians, making it the largest ever survey of its kind.
The Census found the following:
35%
43%
33%
42%
of gay men and 37% of lesbian/gay women reported low mental wellbeing, making them among the worst affected.
of musicians that reported extremely negative mental wellbeing say it is "very" or "fairly" likely that they will change careers within the next 5 years.
of musicians that work in dance music were found to have the highest rates of poor mental health.
of professional musicians in the UK earn less than £14,000 a year with the lowest earners (under £7,000 per annum) found to be twice as likely to report low mental wellbeing compared to the 17% earning £55,000 or more from music.
The largest known study specifically exploring mental health and the music industry was carried out by the University of Westminster and MusicTank, and commissioned by the charity Help Musicians.
The study found the following contributed to poor mental health in musicians:
2. A lack of recognition
4. Being a woman in the industry
3. Physical issues
1. Poor working conditions
The arts in the UK often have their funding cut, leading some to argue that the importance of the culture sector is underestimated.
Examples include anti-social working hours, locations such as old theatres with problems like mould and damp, and the unpredictability of work making it difficult to plan ahead.
From Repetitive Strain Injury, to hearing loss, to musculoskeletal and respiratory disorders, being a musician can impact physical health as well as mental health.
Sexist attitudes and and sexual harassment can occur. There are also the issues women across all industries often have to deal with, such as balancing work with caring responsibilities.
The second part of the same study also uncovered some information about how musicians see themselves:
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Their relationship to their work is part of how they define themselves.
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They can be very self-critical, as being a musician involves constant feedback, whether you’re playing solo, in an orchestra, or in a band.
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They want to appear as if they’re in control, even if they’re struggling.
As a result of this, the study proposes changes across education and best practice, as well as a mental health support service for musicians and anyone else working in music.
Wider studies around mental health in the workplace have found mixed results.
Mind’s Big Mental Health Report 2024 found the following to be leading causes of stress at work:
40%
45%
42%
are working unpaid overtime more regularly
said they felt isolated at work
had concerns over job security
74% of managers in England show a degree of concern for their teams’ mental health, however 33% felt out of their depth when it came to supporting those with mental health challenges and 29% called for more support and training.
According to the Burnout Report, published by Mental Health UK, work adjustments (38%) and professional mental health support (29%) were both reported as positive preventative measures when it came to burnout. However, the same study reported that 49% of workplaces didn’t have a formal policy on burnout, which can lead to uncertainty.
According to research, 30% of employees wouldn’t feel able to talk openly with their line manager if feeling stressed and 14% said they had resigned due to stress. In another survey, 64% of respondents admitted they were scared of being judged by their managers if they talked about their mental health. Reasons they gave included:
37%
I fear my employer would fire me
24%
47%
30%
22%
34%
64%
I fear it would make me look weak
I fear my employer would judge me
My employer doesn’t understand mental illness
I fear it would jeopardise my chance at a promotion
My employer isn’t very supportive
I fear my employer wouldn’t believe me
(source)
The same research showed that 46.1% of professionals have considered leaving a job because it impacted their mental health, suggesting that businesses are more likely to retain staff if they take their wellbeing into account.
