Support Act Launches 2024 Mental Health & Wellbeing Survey For Aus Music & Creative Industries

The absolute legends at Support Act have launched the second edition of their survey to assess Mental Health And Wellbeing In Music And The Creative Industries, inviting Australians working in those sectors to make their voices heard.

This year’s survey is being conducted in partnership with the Swinburne University of Technology’s Centre for Social Impact, and is open to anyone over the age of 16 working in music, arts, digital games, screen and literature. It’s completely anonymous and voluntary, and Support Act say it should only take around 15 to 30 minutes to complete. They’ve also made it more accessible by offering the survey in the form of a prompt-based audio call.

You can head here to fill the survey out for yourself (or request a call for the audio version). Answers will be accepted until Tuesday June 18, with the findings due to be published in August.

According to a press release, the survey’s aim is “to provide an updated picture of the mental health and wellbeing of people working across music and the creative industries in Australia” and offer insight into how professionals in those sectors are responding to “challenges including the rising cost of living, increased performing/production costs, loss of work, workplace safety and/or career concerns; and which services and supports they turn to for help.”

In a formal statement, Support Act CEO Clive Miller said of the initiative: “We know that many people are struggling and have a lot to share right now, so we’re inviting input from all of the creative industries in this latest survey to give us a more holistic view of the mental health and wellbeing of the sector as a whole, and to better align with the wide range of music and arts workers who currently access our Wellbeing Helpline.

“We hope that this will provide a much-needed outlet to share feedback, both positive and negative, and help Support Act and others plan how we might better support the sector into the future.”

Adding to the sentiment was Dr. Aurora Elmes of the Centre for Social Impact, who said in a statement of her own: “Work can have a significant influence on health and wellbeing, and many people in creative industries have experienced a lot of disruption and uncertainty in recent years. This research is an opportunity to learn from people across creative industries about the key issues they face now, and what affects or supports their wellbeing at work and in life.

In addition to Support Act and the Centre for Social Impact, the survey was developed with input from /Craft, AccessEAP, APRA AMCOS, ARIA PPCA, Arts Wellbeing Collective, the Australian Society of Authors, the Association of Artist Managers, Creative Workplaces, CrewCare, Entertainment Assist, MEAA, Music NSW, Music SA, Music Victoria, the National Association of Visual Artists, QMusic, Screen Australia, Screen Well and Theatre Network Australia.

Support Act first conducted its Mental Health And Wellbeing In Music And The Creative Industries survey in 2022. The results were shocking, to say the least, with 66 percent of participants reporting they felt high or very high levels of psychological distress and 59 percent saying they’d experienced suicidal thoughts – both statistics being more than four times higher than that of the general population.

39 percent of respondents also said they’d been exposed unsafe working conditions in the year prior, while only 15 percent said they felt safe at work all the time.