YCAT Launches 2024 Musicians’ Mental Health Month 

Focusing on tackling performance anxiety, the third edition of the mental health campaign will run until April 30, 2024

The Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) has again partnered with the Musicians’ Union (MU), British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM), and Tonic Rider, to raise awareness of mental health resources available to early-career musicians. 

Musicians' Mental Health Month 2024 tackles Performance Anxiety, and will run until April 30. Places for free one-to-one coaching with arts consultant Marion Friend MBE will take place on April 15 can be booked via the coaching enquiry form.

Part of the charity Tonic Music for Mental Health, Tonic Rider provides training, support, and resources — its Performance Anxiety Workshop will be held online on April 29. 

For more health and wellbeing resources, click here. 

Additionally, free mental health zines are available for download here, and the MU’s Young Freelancers’ Guide to Mental Health in the Music Industry is free to access here. 

“As a musician, educator and music psychologist myself, I understand all too well the impact that Performance Anxiety can have on careers and lives,” said YCAT’s project manager, Kate Blackstone in the press release. “Recent graduates may find it difficult to know where to turn for help and advice, so I’m really proud that we at YCAT are partnering with industry experts to promote new resources that will provide ongoing support.”

“We at Tonic Rider are pleased that YCAT are raising awareness of music Performance Anxiety for Musicians' Mental Health Month,” added Jade Hughes, Tonic Rider’s Training, Support and Safeguarding lead. “Music Performance Anxiety can be debilitating and, if left unmanaged, can negatively impact one’s career. By helping young artists to understand and overcome their music Performance Anxiety we are supporting them to maintain and move forward in their music career.”

Additionally, MU’s new performance anxiety resources are free to access for non-members, and address Performance Anxiety management from both a clinical and coaching point of view.

“The Musicians’ Union has been developing musician-specific guidance and service access to specialist musicians’ health and wellbeing services to support its members in this over the years,” said MU’s Education and Health & Wellbeing Officer, Rose Delcour-Min. “We’re pleased to add new guidance and resources on the topic of Performance Anxiety this month – something that many musicians will experience over the course of their career … we hope that making this information available will help musicians have these important conversations about their health, and ultimately result in more musicians getting the assistance they need to take care of it.”

The largest performing arts medicine service in the UK for over 30 years, BAPAM provides free clinical assessments for those with health problems affecting their performing arts practice. 

"Roughly 6 in 10 musicians experience Performance Anxiety, an excessive feeling of fear related to not being able to perform well, and for about 1 in 5, this is severe,” explained Phoebe Butler, training coordinator at BAPAM. “It is very important to know what Performance Anxiety is and how to get support. It’s useful to remember that whilst for some people performance anxiety may be debilitating, for others it can enhance performance … [we recommend] that all musicians understand how it occurs, the symptoms, and what to do to manage it.”

Founded in 1984, YCAT helps bolster the careers of emerging artists internationally. Providing professional career guidance and performance networks, YCAT also offers multi-year management of selected artists, plus online career development for all freelance musicians.