Mental Health in the Live Industry: A Resource Guide

Talking about and taking care of our mental health is important for everyone – and perhaps especially so for those who work in the live music industry. For as much fun as this business can be, it’s also a high-stress environment characterized by late nights, 24/7 demands and unpredictability.

MusiCares’ 2025 Wellness in Music survey, with a record of nearly 3,200 music professionals, found that “11.4 percent of WIM survey respondents reported suicidal ideation in the last year, representing an increase from 8 percent in our 2024 survey and more than double the U.S. general population.”

Other takeaways included how financial insecurity is taking a toll on mental health, with 40 percent of respondents attributing their anxiety to their finances and 32 percent attributing their depression to finances. Thankfully, there is help out there from MusiCares and other nonprofits and organizations serving the music industry. Here is just a sample of the care that’s available.

Amber Health Amber Health provides tailored mental health care to every corner of the music industry, from proactive support to on-the-ground clinical programming. Services include care for music companies, festivals and events, global tours, artists and teams. Amber Health has worked with companies including Clair and Sony, as well as supporting the crews of artists including Beyoncé, Olivia Rodrigo, Green Day, Ed Sheeran and more. Visit https://www.amber.health/ for more information.

Backline Backline is a non-profit that connects music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources. The charity’s services include its Case Management Program, with one-on-one support helping find a therapist who understands the industry, financial aid, wellness plans, or tools for managing substance use. To qualify for the program you must be a U.S. resident who receives 50% or more income derived from music (venues, writing, touring, live event production) within the last two years. Spouses, partners, and children of qualifying individuals are also eligible for Backline’s services. Earlier this year Backline launched B-LINE, a 24/7 mental health and crisis support line created exclusively for the music industry. Care can be accessed by calling 855-BLINE99 or texting 254-639, with the support line now open. Visit https://backline.care/ for more information.

ECCHO Live ECCHO Live, which was previously known as Touring Career Workshop, is a non-profit that provides live event progressions education, connection and mental health resources. The organization’s All Access Program provides four free confidential counseling sessions per year for folks working full time in the live entertainment industry. Services are available to persons who have made a living by working in the live event industry for 2+ years. The program also extends to spouses, partners and dependents. ECCHO Live offers its All Access – Mental Wellness program, connecting folks “to free, confidential mental health counseling and coaching,” as well as its All Access – Financial program, getting “people connected to free, confidential one-on-one financial coaching or planning sessions per year with vetted providers, whether that’s a coach, planner, or advisor.” The organization also provides free, on-site counseling and coaching at major festivals and shows across the U.S. Visit https://www.eccholive.com/ for more information.

MusiCares MusiCares is a nonprofit charity founded by the Recording Academy that offers a safety net of critical health and welfare services for music professionals in three key areas: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services, Health Services, and Human Services including support for basic living expenses like rent, utilities, car payments and insurance premiums in times of hardship. Anyone working in the music industry is encouraged to contact MusiCares for help including “musicians, songwriters, engineers, producers, live crew, tour bus drivers, managers, agents, A&R, makeup artists, costume designers, music video creatives & technicians, and anyone whose livelihood depends on music or makes music happen.” Those requesting financial assistance must possess documentation of employment history in the music industry (three years for disaster relief), or six commercially released recordings or videos (singles). MusiCares also offers weekly support groups and financial coaching, among other services. In April MusiCares announced it had partnered with The Jed Foundation (JED) to launch a digital microsite providing suicide prevention and mental health resources tailored to music professionals. Visit https://www.musicares.org/ and https://musicares.jedfoundation.org/ for more information.

Music Health Alliance Music Health Alliance is a nonprofit dedicated to providing access to healthcare through programs and services that protect, direct, and connect music industry professionals with medical and financial solutions. Programs and services include dental care resources, group health services, healthcare advocacy and confidential guidance, individual/family health insurance, mental health resources, senior care support and vision care resources. Services are available to any person who made a living by working in the music industry for 3+ years. Documentation can be provided in a variety of ways including references, liner note credits, copies of contracts, check stubs, brochures, flyers, and newspaper articles. Spouses, legal domestic partners, and dependent family members also may qualify. Visit https://www.musichealthalliance.com/ for more information.

Music Mind Matter Music Minds Matter is a U.K.-based charity that offers free, confidential mental health support for anyone working in music via its Music Minds Matter Helpline available 24/7 at 0808 802 8008. Text service is also available 24/7 by texting “MUSIC” to 85258. Plus, Music Minds Matter offers free online self‑care sessions called “Check Your Levels.” The next session, focused on staying well working nights, takes place June 8. Visit https://www.musicmindsmatter.org.uk/ for more information.

Recovery Unplugged Recovery Unplugged is a national behavioral health treatment organization with locations across the country that combines evidence-based practices with music to help patients more readily embrace treatment. Treatment programs include Anxiety, Mental Health, Depression, Drug Addiction, Alcohol Addiction, Bipolar and PTSD with levels of care including Detox, Residential Treatment, Intensive Outpatient, PHP Treatment, Behavioral Telehealth and Mental Health Residential. Visit https://www.recoveryunplugged.com/ for more information.

The Roadie Clinic The Roadie Clinic is a nonprofit that “exists to empower and heal roadies and their families by providing services and resources tailored to the struggles of the touring lifestyle.” Services include its industry referral network, family services, wellness kits and care packages and Roadies in Recovery virtual meetings. The Roadie Clinic is also in the process of creating The Lofts, a three-story, multi-faceted space in Niles, Michigan, for “roadies and their families to visit, stay and receive care.” Visit https://theroadieclinic.com/ for more information.

Sweet Relief Musicians Fund Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is a nonprofit that provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing physical or mental health issues, disability, or age-related problems. Eligibility requirements for music industry workers include making 50% or more of their income from this field. “Music Industry Workers” includes artist managers, tour managers and crew workers, booking agents, producers, recording engineers, music teachers, publicists, and others. Visit https://www.sweetrelief.org/ for more information.

_Originally reported by [Pollstar](https://news.pollstar.com/2026/05/22/mental-health-awareness-month-a-resource-guide-for-the-live-industry/)._