Courteeners Liam Fray Supports Music Industry Mental Health Service

Headstock Announces Partnership with Mental Health Innovations to offer Free, Confidential and 24/7 Mental Health Support to the Music Industry through the Charity’s Text Service, Shout 

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From Thursday 08th February, anyone working within the music industry that is struggling to cope will be able to text the word ‘MUSIC’ to 85258 to receive free, confidential support, 24/7.

Backed by Courteeners frontman Liam Fray and singer-songwriter Lapsley, the specialised de-escalation service is the first of its kind for the U.K. music industry.

Funded by Amazon Music, the brand-new initiative has widespread industry support from the NTIA, Skiddle and Music Venues Trust – plus signposting partners: Music Minds Matter & Music Support.

Music & mental health social enterprise, Headstock, has announced that it has partnered with mental health charity Mental Health Innovations to provide dedicated mental health text support to anyone working within the music industry.

From Thursday 08th February, anyone that is struggling to cope and needing to talk will be able to text the word ‘MUSIC’ to 85258 to receive free, confidential support, 24/7. 

In an industry first, the de-escalation text messaging service has been funded by Amazon Music and is being delivered by Mental Health Innovation’s flagship Shout service.

Shout’s team of highly trained volunteers will deliver in-the-moment support for people from all walks of the music industry, who are anxious, distressed, or suicidal, with Shout’s qualified clinical support team on hand to provide expert supervision of conversations at any time of day or night.

Backed by Courteeners’ frontman, Liam Fray and a host of industry organisations and figureheads, MUSIC 85258 has been created by Headstock as a direct response to the spiralling mental health crisis facing the music industry - a crisis compounded by the global pandemic and subsequent cost-of living crisis. 

The text support service is also being backed by signposting partners, Music Minds Matter and Music Support, industry body, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), and ticketing & event discovery site, Skiddle.

Liam Fray said: “Everyone goes through their ups and downs in life, and for musicians, I think these feelings are often magnified. It’s an absolute rollercoaster. 

“Nothing can describe the high of being on stage in front of 50,000 people. It’s the best feeling in the world. But when the crowds go home, you crash. When we finish a tour it’s almost instant. I know loads of musicians who say the same thing – but it’s very rarely talked about because we’re supposed to be ‘rock n roll’.

“The advice we get given it ‘try to talk’ – but that in itself is really difficult. Opening up and baring your soul to another human being. That’s why I think the new MUSIC 85258 mental health text support service being launched by Headstock & Shout is such a great initiative. 

“It’s important that people who work across all aspects of the music industry know they’re not on their own, the extreme highs and lows are recognised, and I’m sure the discreet nature of the service will encourage more people to reach out & seek the support they need.”

According to research, 73% of independent musicians struggle with mental illness[1], whilst people working within the industry are three times more likely to suffer from clinical depression compared to the general population[2].

The Headstock and Shout MUSIC 85258 partnership enhances support already available across the industry and is likely to reach new audiences who have not sought help elsewhere, due to the discreet text-based nature of Shout service. Whilst other mental health support exists for people working within the music industry, 48% of texters say they prefer to text rather than talk about private things – and 34% are too embarrassed to talk on the phone or speak in person.

For anyone using the MUSIC 85258 service that needs additional, industry-specific support, the support team will signpost texters to specialist charities, Music Minds Matter and Music Support.

Singer-Songwriter Lapsley continued: “The text service being launched by Headstock & Shout is so incredibly important for anyone within our industry going through a mental health crisis. Being able to talk to someone when the world feels like it’s closing in offers a light in the darkness.”

Headstock Founder, Atheer Al-Salim said: “In our post-Covid world, there is a huge amount of pressure on the music industry to bounce back after a devastating pandemic. This is having a hugely detrimental impact on the mental health of our musicians, and everyone associated with the industry. We are delighted to be partnering with Shout to offer support to anyone working within the industry and encourage more people to reach out and seek help. ”

Michael Kill, CEO, NTIA concluded: “As the CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, I am proud to endorse and support the collaboration between Headstock and Shout in addressing the pressing mental health challenges within our music community. 

“In the aftermath of the challenging times faced by thousands of musicians across the UK, this innovative text support service emerges as a lifeline, offering discreet assistance to those in need.

“Headstock’s partnership with Shout is a testament to their commitment to the wellbeing of our industry professionals. The launch of this support line is not just timely; it’s a crucial intervention that has the potential to save thousands of lives. In these trying times, the dedication shown by both organisations stands as a beacon of hope for our community.

 “As we navigate the complexities of post-Covid recovery, this initiative serves as a vital resource, providing a confidential space for individuals to reach out for help. We recognise the profound impact this can have on our musicians and industry associates, and we are confident that this collaborative effort will make a lasting difference in fostering a healthier and more resilient music industry.”

 Headstock is launching the new MUSIC 85258 text support service at the Night Time Economy Summit in Manchester on Thursday 08th February where it is hosting a panel discussion on mental health in the music industry. The panel is titled ‘The Show Can’t Go On’, and will feature representatives from Music Support, Help Musicians’ sister charity Music Minds Matter, Skiddle, and the Music Industry Therapists Collective (MITC), as well as singer-songwriter, Lapsley.