Rising number of performers seeking mental health support

The number of performers seeking help for mental health challenges has risen sharply since the pandemic, a charity has said.

The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) said the number of mental health consultations it conducted in 2023 represented a 396% increase on the 2019 figure.

In addition to clinical assessments, BAPAM’s UK-wide network of psychotherapists and psychologists provided more than 7,200 psychotherapy sessions last year funded by Equity and Dance Professionals Fund schemes and a partnership with Music Minds Matter.

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The charity said mental health consultations accounted for nearly a third of (32%) of all consultations during 2023, pointing out that mainstream artists, including Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi, have openly shared their mental struggles, giving more visibility to the issue.

Claire Cordeaux, CEO of BAPAM, said the past five years have been "destabilising and challenging" for performers and gig economy professionals, adding that pressures had been heightened by the continued cost-of-living and housing crises. 

"As a result, BAPAM has seen a surge in demand for our clinical services, particularly in mental health. We know this situation can be improved and that, by working together with industry, we can foster a better culture of wellbeing within the performing arts to reduce high levels of poor health and enable performers to thrive,” she said. 

“As we mark our 40th anniversary in 2024, I hope the medical and creative communities can unite in our efforts to support the artists and professionals who form the backbone of our world-leading creative and entertainment industries and bring so much value, not just to our economy and society but our everyday lives.”

BAPM added that musculoskeletal injuries accounted for more than 40% of all medical consultations it delivered in 2023.

Meanwhile, vocal problems have become more prevalent, comprising 15% of BAPAM’s casework in 2023 compared with 6% in 2019.

Dame Evelyn Glennie, award-winning percussionist and BAPAM patron, said: “It’s absolutely crucial for performers to be able to protect and maintain our health; a simple injury or an undiagnosed condition can put a hard stop on our careers, reshape our futures and threaten our livelihoods."