Worried about someone

It’s not always easy to know what to do when someone you care about is struggling. But noticing the signs and reaching out can make a real difference. 

Whether you work closely with someone or cross paths on the road, in the studio or at a rehearsal, you might be the first to spot when something’s not right. You don’t need to have all the answers – just being there can help.

Talking about mental health can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. What matters is showing you care. 

We’ve created some conversation starters to help you open up a gentle, supportive dialogue with someone who might be struggling.

Here are some ways you can support a friend, colleague or teammate: 

• Listen without judgement – you don’t need to fix things, just be present
• Ask open questions – help them reflect on what might help (eg. Can you share any times you’ve felt like this before? How have you dealt with similar feelings in the past?)
• Avoid giving advice too quickly – focus on understanding, not solving
• Respect your own limits – it’s OK to say you’re not sure what to do
• Encourage professional help – if things feel beyond what you can manage, that’s OK

If someone is in immediate danger or at risk of harm: 

If it’s an emergency and your teammate or someone else is in danger of harm, call 999 or go to A&E with them now, you don’t need to keep it confidential. 

For urgent but non-emergency support: 

The NHS provides free advice for people who need urgent help – call 111 and select the mental health option. 

For ongoing or less urgent concerns: 

• Encourage them to speak to their GP 
• Share links to specialist support for people in music – see our support directory 
• Suggest they call Music Minds Matter for free, confidential support 

For less urgent situations, help them think through support available from: friends and family; music industry (peers, trade bodies they might be a member of); professional services (charities, recovery groups etc.) 

Tonic Music is a registered charity establishing good mental health within music communities, by providing tailored mental health support to anyone working in music, regardless of role, genre and income. Services on the programme consist of therapy sessions, peer groups, skills workshops and training courses, facilitated by qualified mental health practitioners with significant experience working in music. All of these services are accessible online for free at the point of access.

Registration form here

Web: www​.ton​icmusic​.co​.uk
Email: teamtonic@​tonicmusic.​co.​uk

If you are in immediate danger or thinking of harming yourself, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. If you need urgent mental health support, you can contact Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7) or NHS 111.

Mental health support in music:

• British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) provides specialised health services for those working in the performing arts. Find out more.
• Music Support is a registered charity that helps peers who work in the UK Music industry experiencing substance use, addiction and mental health challenges. They offer a helpline 0800 030 6789 (Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm except for bank holidays) and a range of other support services.

General mental health support:

• Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday except bank holidays)
• Mind Support line: 0300 102 1234 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday except bank holidays)
• CALM: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm – midnight, 365 days a year)