The Canadian music industry is suffering a mental health crisis, according to the preliminary findings of a Revelios survey, conducted in partnership with SOCAN and Unison Fund. It reveals the impact of stress, substance use, and the pressures of achieving financial success on music industry workers, and emphasizes the crucial requirement for more, and better, industry support.
“These findings are a call to action,” said Catherine Harrison, President and founder of Revelios, as she revealed the data from SOUNDCHECK: A Survey on Mental Health in The Canadian Music Industry at the inaugural Departure Conference in Toronto, on May 7, 2025. “The Canadian music industry is grappling with profound and systemic mental health challenges. Without co-ordinated leadership, better education, and meaningful structural support, we risk losing the creative heart of our industry to burnout, distress, and disillusionment.”
The report, launched in September of 2024, outlines findings from the first 800 responses to the survey, which aims to identify factors leading to mental health issues in the Canadian music industry. Soundcheck is the first Canada-wide study of its kind, and the music workers in its purview include artists, crew, producers, managers, and other industry professionals.
Among the key findings:
- 94% agree that mental health issues are widespread in the Canadian music industry.
- 86% report personally experiencing mental health challenges, with 95% having witnessed others struggling.
- 79% say financial stress directly impacts their mental health, while only 6% feel any sense of job security.
- Alarmingly, 52% have felt life wasn’t worth living, and 43% have considered taking their own life.
- 81% say their work environment is not conducive to mental health, and 94% believe industry leaders could be doing more.
- Only 10% strongly agree that leaders actively support mental health in the workplace.
- 84% report stigma around substance use, and 58% experience stigma even around sobriety or recovery.
- Only 9% of respondents report getting enough sleep to perform at their best.
- 96% agree that mental health education is critical, yet 81% have never received formal training.
- 85% want better tools to manage their own mental health, and 95% want education on supporting peers.
Despite its ongoing status, SOUNDCHECK is already showcasing the need for mental health support in the Canadian music industry, and highlighting a critical need for awareness and support on the industry’s behalf. Revelios encourages music industry workers to participate in the anonymous survey, which will remain open until Sept. 30, 2025. A final study report is scheduled to be published at the beginning of 2026.