skip to main content

Let’s Talk About Mental Health

Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. In this blog we round up articles from popular musicians from Adele to Stormzy, discussing their experiences with mental health.

Published: 22 May 2020 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:30 PM
Photograph of a microphone, with a brightly coloured and busy but blurred background.
No matter what you’re going through – you’re not going through it alone. Photo caption: Shutterstock

In our second blog for Mental Health Awareness (MHA) week, we want to remind you that no matter what you’re going through – you’re not going through it alone. We’ve put together a round-up of articles and interviews from different popular musicians discussing their own experiences with mental health.

Please be aware that a number of these articles explicitly cover topics which may be distressing.

Getting and sharing support

We’ve published a list of resources that you can use during the Covid-19 pandemic – including helplines which offer advice and support to anyone in the music industry, and downloadable guides on staying mentally well – on our mental health support page.

For those interested in reading up on mental health issues in the music industry and beyond this MHA week, we selected some key resources and listed them in our first blog for MHA week.

Remember, If it’s an emergency, or you or someone you know is at imminent risk of harm or in acute distress, you can call 999 or go to your local A&E department.

Get MU membership today

From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. This includes Public Liability, Instrument and Equipment Insurance, Accident Insurance, Tax Investigation Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance for music teachers.

Explore our member services

  • Get public liability insurance for musicians
  • Access expert legal support
  • Be represented in your profession
  • Access expert career advice, resources, and training events
  • Connect, network, and get to know the community of musicians

Learn about all membership benefits

Get MU membership today

Continue reading

David playing oboe at a rehearsal.

Tribute to David Presly

David Presly was an MU member for 54 years, and his distinguished orchestral career, adventurous spirit and enduring sense of humour made him a much-loved figure within the profession. This tribute has been written by David's colleague and friend, Alan.

Published: 25 September 2026

Read more about Tribute to David Presly
Selfie of Harry wearing headphones and smiling next to his friend and colleague, trumpeter Matt Roberts.

Tribute to Harry Brown

Friends and colleagues pay tribute to Harry Brown, an acclaimed trombonist, educator and mentor whose extraordinary musical career was matched by his generosity, encouragement and unwavering support for others.

Published: 25 September 2026

Read more about Tribute to Harry Brown
Exterior of the music building. It is a beige square building with a large sign on it that says

Support Staff and Music Education at Goldsmiths

Staff at Goldsmiths, University of London, including colleagues in the Music Department, are taking sustained strike action over proposed cuts and redundancies, amid wider pressures facing music provision in UK higher education.

Published: 24 September 2026

Read more about Support Staff and Music Education at Goldsmiths