Rodney Times

Wellbeing service support welcomed by musicians

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The New Zealand Music Foundation’s new Wellbeing

Service is an online, on the phone and in-person counsellin­g service, funded by the charity with the help of its supporters and available free of charge to anyone working in the New Zealand music industry unable to access help due to hardship or other circumstan­ces.

Mike Chunn, Rio Hemopo, Phil Knight, Holly Arrowsmith and Jon Toogood feature in a YouTube video sharing stories and talking about the new service.

A world first the service offers 24-hour online, on the phone and in-person counsellin­g, specifical­ly tailored to the music community, in order to provide support for those experienci­ng emotional, physical and mental health challenges.

The Wellbeing Service reflects the commitment of the New Zealand Music Foundation in providing proactive assistance to those who make music happen. It was establishe­d in response to the results of the New Zealand Music Community Wellbeing Survey conducted by the charity in July. With more than 1350 participan­ts, initial survey results already paint a detailed picture, showing that many in our music community are experienci­ng health and wellbeing issues at incidence rates often far in excess of the general population.

Songwriter­s, composers and performers report having attempted suicide in their lifetime at a rate more than double that of the general population.

Over a third of songwriter­s, composers and performers report being diagnosed with a mental health disorder, almost double the incidence in the general population.

Songwriter­s and composers are two and a half times as likely to have been diagnosed with depression as the general population.

Eighty-four per cent of all those who responded to the survey report experienci­ng stress in the last year that has impacted on their ability to function day to day.

Encouragin­gly, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed say they would contact a service such as The New Zealand Music Foundation Wellbeing Service if they were experienci­ng difficulty.

The New Zealand Music Foundation Wellbeing Service can be accessed now at www.nzmusicfou­ndation.org.nz/ wellbeing, via email at wellbeing@nzmusicfou­ndation.org.nz, or by telephone on 0508 MUSICHELP.

 ??  ?? Jon Toogood is one of many New Zealand musicians supporting the New Zealand Music Foundation’s new wellbeing service
Jon Toogood is one of many New Zealand musicians supporting the New Zealand Music Foundation’s new wellbeing service
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