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Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. In other words, healing musicians in need.
MusiCares may grant short-term financial assistance for personal or addiction needs that have arisen due to unforeseen circumstances. Funding may be awarded for needs such as rent, car payments, insurance premiums, utilities, medical/dental expenses, psychotherapy, addiction treatment, sober living, and other personal expenses.
Backline is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources— streamlining access to a network of trusted organizations and care providers that understand this line of work.
Entertainment Community Fund - Mental Health Services
The Mental Health Services Program helps entertainment professionals and their families to deal with a wide array of issues including work and personal stress, anxiety, depression, life transitions and ongoing supportive services. Social workers provide evaluation and referrals, short term treatment, crisis intervention, advocacy and connections to community treatment resources.
Music Health Alliance offers three primary areas of results-driven healthcare services with an emphasis of preventing illness and staying well. These primary areas include providing affordable health insurance, healthcare direction and advocacy, and connecting you to vital healthcare resources. Financial assistance is available for qualifying individuals.
Tour Support is a new program to provide mental health tools & training to touring professionals. Tour Support has formed a partnership with the BetterHelp App called, “BetterHelp: Tour Support for Tours & Vendors to Purchase Counseling Services for their Artists & Teams.” BetterHelp has established a $250,000 fund for independent artists and tours to apply for free services and also has a monthly service plan for organizations that are billed only when members use the service that month.
Sound Mind Live helps those with mental illness thrive by raising awareness and funding for critical mental health services, inspire action for change by encouraging others to reach out for mental health services for themselves or their loved ones, and builds a community of empathy by elevating the stories of musicians speaking out on their mental health.
320 Changes Direction / Change Direction
The Change Direction initiative is a collection of concerned citizens, nonprofits, and others who have come together to change the culture about mental health, mental illness, and wellness. 320 Changes Direction, led by Talinda Bennington (wife of Chester Bennington), is resource for those seeking answers to questions about mental health, mental illness and addiction so that they can support the people in their lives who are suffering emotionally.
As COVID-19 continues to put many concerts on pause, we are extending a helping hand to the touring and venue crews who are in great need of support. Crew Nation is here to provide monetary grants to those facing hardship during the pandemic and beyond. Crew Nation is powered by Music Forward Foundation, a charitable 501c3 organization. Live Nation has committed $10 million in support of Crew Nation.
The Jazz Foundation of America
For 28 years, the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) has been keeping jazz, blues, roots, R&B and soul alive by helping these incredible musicians. Our Musicians’ Emergency Fund provides social services such as housing assistance, pro bono medical care, and emergency financial support to musicians in crisis. We also assist with creating employment within the industry.
Inspired by late Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell, the Nowell Family Foundation provides addiction recovery services to the music community through the combined strength of the industry and those who have been touched by the power of music. The Nowell Family Foundation is raising funds to open Bradley’s House, a six-bed recovery facility that will provide treatment for people in the music industry with opioid addiction, regardless of their financial situation.
The Continuance Foundation provides the full-time, touring & studio musician with the necessary tools, education, funds, direction, and guidance to properly prioritize & invest into their mental health. Within 24 hours of applying, musicians in need will be connected to a therapist for mental health counseling and be plugged into the “TCF Social Initiative,” a community of musicians who are also dedicated to mental wellness. The foundation covers all health costs and logistics for a period of time for those who apply.
The Wellness Starter Pack for Music Makers’ Mental Health
We believe that every artist should be able to make music and feel good doing it. Therefore, we have created The Wellness Starter Pack – a toolbox for wellbeing. Together with industry experts, we explore the impact that sleep, positivity, mindfulness, exercise, and nutrition have on your mental health using video education. Our hope is to provide legitimate, science-based information and tangible tools that can help prioritize your mental wellbeing.
National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
Our mission is to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality health care. Charitable clinics utilize a volunteer/staff model to provide a wide range of medical, dental, pharmacy, vision and/or behavioral health services to economically disadvantaged individuals. Clinics may be free or charge a nominal/sliding fee to patients, regardless of the patient's ability to pay, with services utilized by the uninsured, underinsured or those who have limited or no access to primary, specialty or prescription health care. Visit the website to find a clinic near you.
American Music Therapy Association
Music therapy provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional (including mood disorders), cognitive, and social needs of individuals. Easily find a local music therapist in your area by visiting the website and using their online search tool.
A website dedicated to finding mental health resources for musicians and others, with the ability to search nonprofit organizations both locally and nationwide. Services are often free, low cost or affordable.
Since 1914, Musicians Foundation has fostered the interests and advanced the condition and social welfare of professional musicians. They provide voluntary aid and assistance to professional musicians and their families in case of need.
Center for Musical Development & Wellness
Based in New Orleans, LA, the Center for Musical Development and Wellness (CMDW) promotes recreational music making and mental health awareness for musicians of all ages and abilities.
SIMS Foundation provides mental health and substance use recovery services for musicians, music industry professionals, and their dependent family members. Through education, community partnerships, and accessible managed care, SIMS seeks to destigmatize these issues while supporting and enhancing the wellbeing of the music community at large.
The Neal Casal Music Foundation (NCMF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit created to inspire future musicians and bring mental health support to musicians already on the path. The Foundation has donated music instruments and lessons to students in New Jersey and New York state schools where Neal was born and raised, as well as making donations to much needed mental health organizations that support musicians in need such as Musicares and Backline.
American Federation of Musicians: Disaster & Emergency Assistance Fund
Help is available for musicians who have suffered major losses in hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
Rock to Recovery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps people heal and transform their lives through the powerful experience of writing, playing, and performing music as a group. We work with veterans, youth, and those working to overcome addiction, eating disorders and a variety of mental health issues. Rock To Recovery has more than 100 treatment centers in California, Oregon, and Tennessee.
The Sweet Stuff Foundation was founded in 2013 to give assistance to career musicians, recording engineers and their families struggling with illness and disability. Things like transportation to medical treatment, assistance with childcare and tuition, income assistance, the "last wishes" of a lifetime, and special treatments not covered by insurance.
Based in Boston, MA, Tunefoolery is an organization for musicians affected by mental illness. Our mission is to give our musicians opportunities for healing through music making and vocational rehabilitation.
Founded by Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit, The Wishart Group develops programs and services that better serve and promote the mental, physical, and creative well-being of artists.
New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic and Assistance Foundation
The New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic offers occupational and comprehensive health services for musicians, performers, cultural workers and tradition bearers of New Orleans. We serve any patient over the age of 19 and their family, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
Our mission is to prevent suicide. With a focus on musicians, Nuçi’s Space advocates for and helps to alleviate the suffering for those living with a brain illness and fights to end the stigma of mental illness. Nuçi’s Space maintains a health and resource center for musicians to seek support and guidance, and provides access to affordable, obstacle-free professional care.
The Roadie Clinic: Located in Niles, Michigan
The Clinic is committed to providing a safe space for roadies and their families to heal while off the road, and to advocate for – and empower them to obtain – a healthy work environment while on the road. Their tagline is, “Healthy road life. Healthy home life.”
Music Industry Therapists & Coaches (UK & USA)
MITC is a collective of therapists, counsellors and coaches who are all ex-music business, with an abundance of experience of working within the industry in various roles. We offer access to high quality therapy from registered therapists who also have an in-depth inside understanding of how the music industry works.
As a registered charity founded in April 2016, we provide vital help and support for individuals in all areas of the UK music industry suffering from alcoholism, addiction, emotional or mental health issues.
If you work in music and are struggling to cope, or know someone who is, talk to us. It doesn’t have to be a crisis or about music. We have trained advisors that are here to listen, support and help at any time.