We’re pleased to share the details of a new text support service for anyone working within the music industry, thanks to Music and Mental Health social enterprise, Headstock. Music Support’s confidential Helpline, run by peers with lived experience, is available Monday -Friday, 9am – 5pm on 0800 030 6789 or by emailing helpline@musicsupport.org but if you need support outside of these hours you can text the word ‘MUSIC’ to 85258 to receive free, confidential support. 

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.  

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 Music Support, Music Minds Matter, 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 is ‘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.”  

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

  For anyone using the MUSIC 85258 service who would benefit from a telephone conversation and further support, the team will signpost texters to specialist industry charities Music Support and Music Minds Matter.  

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.”  

ABOUT HEADSTOCK  

 Headstock is a Manchester-based social enterprise that works to create music-led solutions to raise money & awareness for mental health charities. Through the power of music and shared experiences, our goal is to create change by changing the conversation around mental health.  Headstock launched in October 2019 and was initially set up as a direct response to the disproportionate level of mental health issues across greater Manchester and the North-West.   

ABOUT SHOUT    

Shout is the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. Shout was launched by Mental health Innovations in May 2019 and has had more than 2 million conversations with 675,000 people who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who need in-the-moment support. Find out more at giveusashout.org.  

  Find out more about Music Support’s Helpline and other support services here.