The findings from SOUNDCHECK, a national study on mental health in the Canadian music industry, clearly indicate that there’s a crisis, and reveal urgent challenges that require action – based on a survey of more than 1,250 Canadian music professionals (including musicians, employees, managers, producers, crew, educators, venue staff, and more), plus focus groups, and one-to-one conversations across the country.
The SOUNDCHECK report, released Feb. 25, 2026, found that mental health challenges are pervasive across the industry (50-86%), with significantly elevated rates compared to the general Canadian workforce (about 12%). Some key findings are as follows:
- Financial precarity (84%), irregular work schedules, and performance pressures emerge as primary stressors
- Systemic barriers including stigma (72%), limited resources, and inadequate workplace support (84%) prevent many from accessing needed care and maintaining good mental health
- Demographic factors including gender, age, and race intersect with industry-specific challenges to create compounded vulnerabilities
- The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing economic volatility have intensified pre-existing mental health challenges
Among other key findings (some previously reported by SOCAN, who supported the study):
- 94% agree that mental health issues are widespread across the Canadian music industry
- 86% have personally experienced mental health challenges
- 95% have witnessed others struggling
- 53% have felt life wasn’t worth living, and 43% considered taking their own life
- 86% experience anxiety, 75% fatigue, and 70% persistent sadness
- Only 10% strongly agree that leadership supports their mental health in the workplace
The SOUNDCHECK report, undertaken by music industry leadership consultancy Revelios, challenges the misconception that mental health struggles are primarily an “artist issue,” and underscores the systemic nature of the crisis across the entire music ecosystem. Issues such as financial instability, toxic workplace culture, discrimination, irregular schedules, and lack of support are affecting the mental well-being of those behind the scenes. 85% want better tools to manage mental health in the Canadian music industry, 93% want education on supporting their peers.
The primary recommendations are to:
- Establish a national mental health support framework with accessible, industry-specific resources, by coordinating resource lists from federal, provincial, and industrial (for-and-non-profit) assets
- Co-create and implement workplace health and safety standards with government, employers, industry associations, educational institutions, and community members
- Address financial precarity through policy interventions and sustainable business model development
- Reduce stigma through education, leadership engagement, and cultural change initiatives
- Invest in ongoing research to monitor trends and evaluate intervention effectiveness
Revelios and SOUNDCHECK intend to vigorously pursue the implementation of these recommendations.