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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, designated each year as a period to spread awareness and education about the importance of mental health care in the U.S. The month has taken on added importance during the ongoing pandemic, during which millions of musicians and other music industry workers have been cut off from their livelihoods during the widespread shutdown of live events.
While mental health care is critically important for music workers even in a normal year, COVID-19 has had profound effects on the mental well-being of those most impacted. According to the 2020 Wellness in Music Survey, a report published by the Recording Academy’s charitable arm MusiCares, 26% of those surveyed reported moderate to severe levels of depression last year, while 53% said they were unable to receive mental health counseling due to lack of funds.
Convention Center Authority, ILEC, Music Biz, PENCIL, Second Harvest and VU announce updates
Alfred Degrafinreid II
The Convention Center Authority has announced the appointment of Alfred Degrafinreid II as a member of its board.
Degrafinreid (pictured), who was nominated by Mayor John Cooper and confirmed by the Metro Council, is associate vice chancellor for local government and community relations at Vanderbilt University.
“We are delighted to welcome Alfred to the board,” Charles Starks, Music City Center president and CEO, said in a release. “He brings a tremendous amount of skill, expertise and knowledge within public administration and community relations at local, state and federal levels, which complement our goals in being a strong city and community partner.”
Music Business Association Partners With Scars Foundation and Music Health Alliance to Establish Mental Health Fund
The fund was created to help Association members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic gain access to important mental health services.by TV News Desk
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announces the formation of the Music Business Mental Health Fund, established in partnership with Music Health Alliance (MHA) and the Scars Foundation. The fund was created to help Association members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic gain access to important mental health services, including screenings and therapy sessions. The increased stresses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have shed more light on something we ve already come to know: access to mental health services is essential in sustaining our professional success and, more importantly, our individual well-being, said Music Biz President Portia Sabin. Our industry has only weathered the lasting effects of this p