MMF UK publishes mental health guide for managers

The UK’s Music Managers Forum (MMF), in partnership with Andy Frank’s new Music Support charity, has published the Music Managers’ Guide to Mental Health, a free publication that aims to provide artist managers with advice to better protect both their own mental health and that of their acts.

Divided into three topics – anxiety and depression; alcoholism and drug addiction; and work balance and boundaries – the guide forms part of MMF’s ongoing commitment to raising awareness of mental illness in the music industry among its 500-strong membership.

Poor mental health is a growing concern in the international music business, with recent studies in Australia, Britain, Norway and more showing musicians and other industry professionals are more likely to suffer with depression, anxiety and other psychiatric problems than the general population.

Speaking at the guide’s launch at The Great Escape yesterday, MMF’s UK general manager, Fiona McGugan, said: “The modern music business is a rewarding environment in which to work, but it is no secret that it can also be tough and isolating – and particularly so for managers. Our members frequently play an all-encompassing role, and must protect their client’s emotional, mental and physical state as passionately as their business interests.

“MMF has created something that will effect great change and pushes the conversation around managers’ mental health wide open”

“At times this is a 24-hour role, and, combined with our ‘always-on’ digital culture, it is quite easy for such support to become stretched to breaking point. If that occurs, it is vital that artist managers can turn to someone in confidence, whether that’s the MMF as their trade body, Music Support, Help Musicians UK or a medical professional.

“All this information is provided in our guide, as well as advice from managers with first-hand experience of dealing with mental health problems and addiction. We hope it will make a positive contribution to tackling this important issue and the development of preventative strategies that will benefit all in the wider music business.”

Ellie Giles of Various Artist Management (The Libertines, Charlie XCX, Spiritualized) adds: “This guide is an incredibly useful and practical document for all artist managers, big or small. It details some hugely complex issues in a very concise manner, and provides links to experts and organisations who can help. The MMF have created something that will effect great change and pushes the conversation around managers’ mental health wide open.”

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