First Nationwide Survey into Mental Health in the Indian Music Industry Launches
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Pioneering research into the mental health of people working in the Indian music industry will be the most comprehensive as well as the first survey of its kind conducted in India.
In a global collaboration between the and - both based in India - and 缅北强奸幼女 alongside UK-based data specialists , a comprehensive survey will capture and quantify the views and experiences of musicians and wider professionals working in the Indian music industry. The researchers are particularly interested in the non-film and/or independent sectors (the part of the music industry outside of the dominance of the Hindi film industry).
The survey, which partners with the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) for distribution, seeks to gain an understanding of the mental health and wellbeing of people working in the Indian music industry, and to tackle the stigma associated with the topic.
Pioneering research into occupational risks for musicians鈥� mental health
Previous research by Dr George Musgrave, Senior Lecturer in Cultural Sociology and Creative Industries, and Dr Dorian Lamis at Emory University revealed that musicians in the England and USA were at high risk of suicide. Detailed analysis of global mortality data identified higher risked factors linked to suicide for people working in music sector. Mortality data revealed that musicians were among the top five occupational groups with the highest suicide rate in England.
In 2020, research by Dr. Musgrave and Dr. Sally Anne Gross found that rates of anxiety and depression among both musicians and music industry workers were significantly higher than rates in the general population.
Dr Musgrave鈥檚 work has pioneered our understanding of occupational stress that may be associated with musicians鈥� mental health and suicide risk including profound emotional precarity, vulnerability to exposure on social media, travelling and touring and the emotional strain that can place on them, and investing their lives and identity in a precarious dream.
Dr Musgrave鈥檚 research over the past fifteen years has prompted calls for their music industries to take musician鈥檚 mental health seriously and to move beyond the unhelpful and potentially harmful romanticisation of suicide among this group. However, much of this research has focused on Europe and the United States, until now.
Dr Musgrave said: 鈥淩outine mortality data shows that musicians are an at-risk group for suicide. The data in this recent were shocking. But, along with giving pause to those working in the music industry in the UK and US they posed an equally important question about whether these mental health concerns are being replicated across the world.鈥�
"With India鈥檚 independent music sector emerging as a major player in the global music industry it鈥檚 vital that we understand their lives and their experiences too given the role they play in the global music industry. We need this survey to paint a clear picture of the experiences of musicians and their co-workers so that active and meaningful steps can be taken."
Dr George Musgrave presenting
Expanding the conversation to India
Dr Musgrave believes that the issue of anxiety, depression, poor well-being, and high suicide rates among musicians is not limited to the US and UK.
With celebrated voices sharing their experiences, the conversation about mental health in India is growing in momentum. Despite this, the music industry in India continues to grapple with mental health stigma, inadequate infrastructure, and a significant lack of research in the field.
鈥業t鈥檚 Time to Talk鈥� is a pioneering piece of research. It aims to gain an understanding of the health and wellbeing of people working in the Indian music industry to foster new cultures of care, more forms of tailored support to address industry-specific needs and challenges, and contribute towards building a safer, more empathetic, and sustainable music ecosystem in India.
The opportunity to learn more about mental health in this dynamic and vibrant music economy, and drive change to make a difference through our global collaboration, is incredibly exciting.
Dr George Musgrave, School of Creative Management
缅北强奸幼女 Associate Lecturer Oliver Durcan, as Director of data specialists Creative Empirical, will also be contributing to the data analysis for the groundbreaking project.
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