Swinburne University study reveals psychological challenges facing music and performing arts

Suicide attempts among workers in Australia’s art and live performance industry rose over last two years according to findings from a Swinburne University study into the psychological challenges facing music and performing arts workers.

The Centre for Social Impact Swinburne and Support Act’s first Mental Health and Wellbeing in Music and Live Performing Arts survey has revealed that participants report high levels of psychological distress with depression and anxiety levels double that found in the general population.

The survey, conducted in March and April and involving more than 1,300, respondents, revealed that psychological distress, suicidal thoughts and the onset of a number of mental health conditions were prevalent among musicians, songwriters, live production crew, managers, producers and live performing artists.

More than half of the respondents had experienced suicidal thoughts - over four-and-a-half times the proportion of the general population - and among those respondents, more than one in 10 had acted on them.

Almost two thirds reported high or very high levels of psychological distress - four times that found in the general population. Among vulnerable groups, the proportion of highly stressed respondents was even higher: for non-binary people it was 83%, women (72%), people under 35 (75%), people with a disability or long-term health condition (81%) and people on a very low income (81%).

Other findings included:

• 35% reported a current mental health condition, which is 1.7 times the proportion estimated in the general Australian population.

• 29% reported having an anxiety condition, and 27% reported having depression, both more than twice that of the general population.

• More than a third reported incomes from their work in music/live performing arts as less than $30,000 per annum, which is below the poverty line.

• Only 15% said they always felt safe at work, with 35% saying they were exposed to unsafe working conditions in the past year.

Pandemic impacts
The COVID-19 pandemic featured prominently in the results, with more than 47% of respondents losing their jobs as a result. Almost two-thirds said the pandemic had impacted their mental health, 61% said it had affected their feeling of being part of an industry community, and 56% noted increased feelings of loneliness or social isolation.

Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne, Dr Aurora Elmes, says the research indicates that people in music and live performing arts continue to face job insecurity and work environments that can be unsafe for physical or mental health.

Dr Elmes advised “on top of existing issues with working conditions, it reveals the ongoing effects of added stressors arising from the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s work, income, social connectedness, and mental health.

“Participants in this research identified a need for further financial and mental health support for people working in music and live performing arts, as well as a need for broader change within the sector and government support to enable this.

“People want to see action towards improved working conditions and work environments that are safe for everyone’s mental and physical health - including addressing identified issues such as ageism, racism, bullying and sexual harassment.”

Conducted by the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne, in conjunction with music charity Support Act, the first Mental Health and Wellbeing in Music and Live Performing Arts survey identifies the need for further support and improvements in these industries.

Over the past two years, Support Act has disbursed more than 16,000 crisis relief grants to music and live performing arts workers from a $35 million Federal Government fund.

Click here for further information and to read the full survey summary results.