News Musicians' Mental Health Month is back for 2025! For the fourth year in a row, Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) has joined forces with three leading music industry organisations for their Musicians Mental Health Month Campaign. Alongside the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM), The Musicians’ Union (MU) and Tonic Music, this year will focus on Coping Strategies, as well as promoting year-round mental health support for musicians. Kate Blackstone, Project Manager at YCAT comments: “Music is a challenging career, and these demands are felt especially keenly by early career musicians. This year I am really proud to be continuing our strong reputation for practical and actionable advice from industry experts, by working with our colleagues to provide this important support - this month and year-round - free of charge.” The campaign will run throughout the month of April, and will feature free 1-2-1 coaching opportunities with Marion Friend, MBE, as well as a Tonic Music Grounding Techniques Workshop, facilitated by Jeordie Shenton. Jeordie Shenton, Programmes Lead at Tonic Music, said: “Tonic Music are delighted to be partnering with the Young Classical Artists Trust once again for Musicians’ Mental Health Month. Research has shown working musicians experience many unique stressors within their occupation and the wider industry. Therefore, the theme of coping strategies is important to highlight positive means of addressing these stressors.” The maintenance of mental wellbeing does not suit a one-size-fits all approach, which is why the MU provides guidance about a variety of coping strategies. Rose Delcour-Min, Data Insight & Education Officer at the MU, explains: “The MU knows how important maintaining good health and wellbeing is for musicians, and is delighted to mark Musicians’ Mental Health Month with YCAT, BAPAM and Tonic Music again for 2025. Over the years the MU has continued to invest in growing our health and wellbeing guidance, resources, and events. We hope that the guidance we have shared on topics such as burnout, stress, and performance anxiety, access to practices such as Feldenkrais, meditation, and yoga, and important health and wellbeing services provided by organisations such as BAPAM and Tonic Music encourages more and more musicians to explore which coping strategies might be right for them.” BAPAM is the largest provider of Performing Arts Medicine in the UK with coverage across the four nations. They provide free clinical assessments for performers with health problems affecting their performing arts practice. Support is focused on specialist clinical assessment to guide diagnosis and recommend the optimal care pathway for a performer, providing clinical advice and referring onwards to experts in the field where necessary. Phoebe Butler, training coordinator at BAPAM, talks about how musicians’ busy lifestyles can cause a need for a range of coping strategies: “Coping strategies can sound daunting or even negative. But they don't have to be! Creating a healthy routine around work and practice can go a long way in helping you cope when things get stressful or you're impacted by injury or illness. A career as a musician can mean long or unsociable hours and touring can mean you fall out of your healthy routine. BAPAM is here to support musicians and performers to have healthier and more sustainable careers. Check out the healthy practice diary on the YCAT website or get help with staying healthy on tour with the healthy touring rider. We also offer training, advice on injury prevention and help with building a healthy and sustainable practice so you can cope when things get busy. Plus, we offer free clinical appointments to performing artists. Take the time this YCAT Musicians’ Mental Health month to check out these resources.” Musicians' Mental Health Month 2025 will run until 30 April. Places for coaching sessions, which will take place on Thursday 24th April, are limited and can be booked via the coaching enquiry form. Visit the YCAT Website to find out more and sign up for Tonic Music's Grounding Techniques Workshop, taking place on Tuesday 22nd April at 1pm. In the meantime join us on Instagram to get involved in the conversation! 2025 Musicians' Mental Health Month New Resources Individual coaching with Marion Friend MBE Sign up by 14th April! More info Grounding Techniques Workshop with Tonic Music, Tues 22nd April, 1pm Sign up Coping Strategies with the Musicians' Union Meditation, breath work and addressing negative self-talk. Read now Wellbeing Resources from BAPAM Healthy Practice Diary and Touring Checklist View now View all Health & Wellbeing Resources Click here to sign up to the 21cMusician newsletter Manage Cookie Preferences