How Indie Musicians are Prioritizing Mental Health and Wellness through their initiatives
Updated on: 10 October, 2022 03:56 PM IST | Priyak Dhar
Almost 1 billion people around the world suffer from mental health conditions according to a new report released by The Lancet Commision on the occassion of World Mental Health Day. That makes it one out of eight people globally. Global pop stars like Justin Bieber and Britney Spears have spoken about how their music careers have affected their mental health. In the last decade alone we have lost some of the most loved musicians including Chris Cornell, Avicii and Chester Bennington to suicide. In a study conducted by Swedish distribution company Record Union back in 2019 showed a staggering 73% of independent musicians suffered from mental health issues. Closer home The Global Music Institute conducted a survey to understand the relation between musicians and their mental health. 79% of the respondents in the age group of 18-24 years are facing mental health challenges, the survey revealed. Mental health issues are rampant within the music community and talking about the challenges need to be made normal. Some indepdndent musicians have taken it upon themselves to normalize conversations around mental health and wellness.
Srijan Mahajan
The 34 year old music composer found it difficult to navigate through the altered professional topograpohy during the pandemic. He looked for help from all quarters. He consulted multiple therapists only to find that although the professionals were competent, they could not contextualise the issues being faced by Mahajan. That is when he along with his childhood friend and entrepreneuer Ankur Kampani and psychologist Aditi Kapoor established Pause, an app that helps artists, creators and entrepreneurs to receive relevant and empathetic mental health services. The app provides customised programmes for specific needs and run byu a team of accomplished professionals.
Rishab Rikhiram Sharma
The young sitarist started healing sessions termed as Sitar For Mental Health during the pandemic. During the pandemic Rishab struggled with his mental health and after multiple rounds of therapy he was suggested that he starts playing his sitar live on Instagram for an audience. Over time the number on the live sessions grew and he coined the sessiones Sitar For Mental Health. Now the disciple of Pt Ravi Shankar has taken his sessions on ground. It is a carefully curated mix of breathing exercises and Indian classical music.
Kanchan Daniel
A blues rock musician, a cancer survivor, a psychology educator Kanchan Daniel has been leading the conversation around mental wellbeing of musicians for quite some time. A few years ago she started a campaign called Mental Harmony to normalize and initiate discussions around mental health. On World Mental Health Day catch Kanchan talk exclusively with Radio City Freedom on the need to take care of one`s mental health.
