Minding Creative Minds- free 24/7 wellbeing support programme for the Irish Music Sector

We were proud to announce the launch of this essential service, Minding Creative Minds, in June 2020 and to be collaborating with so many leaders in the field. In a first of its kind for Ireland’s creative sector, Minding Creative Minds (MCM) is a free 24/7 wellbeing support programme for the Irish Music Sector, delivered by Spectrum Life, that works to assist the creative community through COVID-19 challenges and beyond.   How does the service work? This initial phase of Minding Creative Minds, a free 24/7 Wellbeing and support programme will go live to musicians, songwriters, artist managers and event production crew.  MCM is a Mental Wellbeing Support Programme and will include access to the following Wellbeing services.       24/7 Dedicated Phone Line (Phone 1800 814 244) (Calling from NI – 0800 0903677)       Counselling Service (Short term intervention / Up to 6 Sessions)       Telephone Counselling       Secure Video Counselling       Extensive Web Portal & App enabling live chat function with a counsellor                             In addition to the mental health support system offered, Minding Creative Minds wishes to look at the whole individual resulting in the programme also offering access to a number of additional services structured to help users with various issues they may face such as: Advice on practical, day-to-day issues that cause anxiety and stress Legal Assistance for a range of issues Financial Assistance & Consumer Advice Career Guidance & Life Coaching Support for Non-Irish Nationals & their families Mediation for conflict resolution   Originally it was intended to launch the Minding Creative Minds 24/7 Mental Wellbeing programme later this summer.  However, in the team’s response to the Covid-19 Pandemic, they have adjusted the launch date forward to today as the current pandemic is having a devastating impact on the music sector.  Live work was decimated and as such income for many independent artists and their crews stopped without notice. This programme is open to musicians, songwriters, artist managers and event production crew in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.   From June 2nd, approximately 20,000 people in the music sector in Ireland (Including Northern Ireland) were instantly eligible to access these services   Minding Creative Minds (MCM) is the brainchild of David Reid who is the Co-founder & organiser of the RTE Choice Music Prize and has been a board member and project manager with First Fortnight since 2010.                      The list of funding partners is as follows:   First Fortnight (Lead Partner) IMRO (Irish Music Rights Organisation) IRMA (Irish Recorded Music Association) RAAP (Recorded Artists, Actors & Performers) Universal Music Ireland The BAI (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland) The RTE Choice Music Prize   The Minding Creative Minds programme partner is Spectrum Life: Spectrum Life has a network of 480 counsellors, psychotherapists & psychologists and also provides EAP services for companies like Vodafone, Amazon, & Laya Healthcare.   Last year we conducted a comprehensive survey (1391 respondents) amongst the music & creative community in relation to mental health and the responses were stark and aligns with worldwide research. 91% of respondents said that they had experienced anxiety/depression/mental ill health and 95% said that there was a need for a dedicated mental wellbeing support programme for members of the Irish Music & Creative Community Phase one of the programme launch is for musicians, songwriters, artist managers and event production crew.  It is intended in due course  to open up the services of MCM to the whole music sector and shortly after to open the programme to the  wider Creative Sector in Ireland (theatre/film/visual artists etc.). For more information, please visit mindingcreativeminds.ie/