MusiCares^® Launches Groundbreaking Suicide Prevention Training and Mental Health Resources for Music Professionals in Partnership With The Jed Foundation

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to rising rates of emotional distress and suicide risk across the music industry, MusiCares^®, the leading charity supporting the health and well-being of the music community founded by the Recording Academy^® in 1989, has partnered with The Jed Foundation (JED) to launch a groundbreaking digital microsite providing suicide prevention and mental health resources tailored to music professionals.

For those in the music community, the hustle and irregular schedule can make it challenging to check in on oneself and others. The new site serves as a dedicated hub for articles, self-guided learning and support tools tailored to the realities of life in music. Resources on the site address issues such as financial instability, grief, isolation, the pressures of touring, and the emotional toll of overwork. It also features a self-paced suicide prevention training course created by JED’s mental health and suicide prevention experts for artists, crew members, managers, and support teams. Built in a microlearning format, the course guides participants through recognizing warning signs, starting supportive conversations, responding when someone is in distress, and understanding when to escalate concerns and connect to available resources. Grounded in real-world touring environments and designed with a practical, peer-to-peer tone, the training equips music professionals with clear, actionable steps to strengthen a culture of care across the industry. Participants will have the opportunity to earn an industry-recognized certificate of completion.

According to MusiCares’ 2025 Wellness in Music Survey, 11.4% of music professionals reported suicidal ideation in the last year, up from 8% in 2024 and more than double the rate seen in the general U.S. population. The data also shows that one in six respondents lost a colleague to suicide in the past year. These findings underscore an urgent need for culturally competent and industry-specific mental health support.

“The numbers are heartbreaking, but they tell a story we cannot ignore,” said Theresa Wolters, Executive Director of MusiCares. “When 11.4% of our peers report thoughts of suicide, it’s not just a statistic, it’s a call to action. The music community is one of passion, connection and creative brilliance, yet too many are suffering in silence. We owe it to music people to ensure the resources and support they receive are evidence-informed, accessible and grounded in the realities of this industry. By partnering with JED, we're helping to change that reality through best-in-class expertise. These new resources will give music professionals the knowledge and tools to recognize when someone is struggling, have real conversations about mental health and find the help they need for this growing problem.”

For MusiCares, this partnership builds on a long-standing effort to normalize conversations around mental health in the music industry. By working to reduce stigma around both seeking support and supporting others through emotional challenges, MusiCares continues to create a space where music professionals feel safe reaching out. As the leading expert in the care of music professionals, the organization’s programs are uniquely designed to reflect the pressures, rhythms and realities of a career in music, because no two industries experience stress in quite the same way.

"Music can reduce stress, boost mood and build community, but the people who make it all happen can also experience mental health challenges,” said Dr. Katie Hurley, JED’s Vice President of Community Initiatives. "We're proud to partner with MusiCares to create mental health and suicide prevention resources specifically for artists, crews and teams, rooted in evidence-informed practices and tailored to the diverse realities of life on and off the road. Together, we're providing support that can help reduce suicide.”

This collaboration reflects MusiCares’ ongoing commitment to serve as the music industry’s largest safety net for professionals facing crisis. With JED’s decades of suicide-prevention expertise and MusiCares’ direct connection to the music community, the partnership bridges a critical gap, turning evidence into action for an industry that has long struggled with access to care. Together, the organizations are taking a proactive step toward a future where no one in music has to navigate mental health challenges alone.

The microsite, launching today, will be available at musicares.org/JED.

This initiative would not be possible without support from our sponsor, Spotify.

ABOUT MUSICARES

MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. Offering preventive, emergency and recovery programs, MusiCares is a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 as a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) charity, MusiCares safeguards the well-being of all music people through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts. For more information please visit: www.musicares.org.

ABOUT THE JED FOUNDATION

JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. We’re partnering with high schools, colleges, school districts, and youth-serving community-based organizations to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. We’re equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We’re encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.