21st October, 2026
16th October, 2026With World Mental Health just gone by on 10th October, it was fitting to pull out this book that details the touring and mental health of touring musicians and those closely associated with them.
This comprehensive manual will help musicians and those working in live music to identify and cope with the various physical and psychological difficulties that can occur during, or as a result of, touring. It covers topics including mental health, peak performance and performance anxiety, addiction, group dynamics, relationship problems, dealing with the media, physical health, diversity and inclusion, crisis management and post-tour recovery. Written by health and performance professionals, this timely and essential book provides robust clinical advice, cutting edge research, practical strategies, resources and detailed illustrations. Each chapter is underpinned with personal recollections from musicians and prominent touring personnel, including Nile Rodgers, Justin Hawkins, Philip Selway, Charles Thompson, Katie Melua , Kieran Hebden, Jake Berry, Tina Farris, Taylor Hanson, Trevor Williams, Lauren Mayberry, Pharoahe Monch, Jim Digby, Will Young, Angie Warner, Dale ‘Opie’ Skjerseth and many more. Touring and Mental Health is designed to be picked up, put down, read at length and passed around the tour bus.
This book is a gold mine of resources for touring musicians, their families and friends, artist management, and health professionals who care for performing artists. Tamsin Embleton has brought together a multi-disciplinary team of experts to address a huge gap in available resources for the music industry.
Part I introduces the reader gently to cover the necessary background information about mental health in the touring music industry. Part II dives into the intricacies of professional and personal relationships while on tour exploring conflicts and resolution of difficulties encountered. Part III formally reviews general anxiety, performance anxiety, depression, and crisis management. Part IV explores the darker side of performance stress, trauma, addictions, and the road to recovery and resilience. Part V covers topics on general health from vocal, hearing, and sexual health as well as nutrition and sleep. Part VI gives the reader an excellent overview of self care strategies, preparation for, and recovery from performance stress. This includes movement and breath work, meditation, and peak performance. The contributions from these experts will increase awareness of essential and potentially life - saving information for touring performing artists presented in a professionally written and accessible format. I highly recommend this book to fellow musicians as well as my colleagues in the Performing Arts Medicine Association. BRAVO to Tamsin and her brilliant team!
Edited by seasoned psychotherapist Tamin Embelton, this thoughtful volume is a critical must-read for any music executive, manager, booking agent, or band leader. Chapters, interweaving musicians’ first-person narratives, psychological research, and treatment approaches include topics such as performance anxiety, band dynamics, healthy touring, and addiction.
It was also nice to learn that at the All About Music 2026 tenth edition held from 26th, 27th and 28th August 2026 at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai, Mental Health was one of the panel discussions that was looked into.
Mental health is one of the most integral parts of an artists’ journey. For years the Indian music industry has never given the importance it deserves. Mental health has been treated as a taboo or something hidden, many times the individual suffers alone.
On the second day of At All About Music, speaker Kripi Malviya (Tatva) an existential psychotherapist and Meghna Balani Executive Director of Global Music Institute, (GMI) and the Balani Group of Companies, took a major step addressing the issue with their presentation “It's Time To Talk" - A Report on Mental Health Awareness’ for the very first time on a public stage.
Due to the lack of data from India, the duo conducted a study and survey. Through a PowerPoint presentation and data analysis, audiences were given a first - hand account on how serious the problem was.
The survey was carried across most states in India with over 1300+ participants mostly musicians and industry professionals. Over 700+ actual surveys were gathered by them based on demographic, industry roles and standarize6 mental health metrics.
The findings were shocking. Most of the data came after analysing these 700+ survey data. It was found that 70 % of participants showed a red flag for anxiety, depression and severe psychological distress. Surprisingly it also found a few with suicidal risk.
The study also revealed that the about 89% of LGBTQIA+ professional reported being in suicidal risk.
The survey also revealed that only 11 % of states are actually working to combat this problem with the findings revealing that young professionals aged 25 to 29 faced the highest risk, from dealing with future uncertainty, depression, lack of institutional leverage that also uncovered workplace harassment and discrimination in the music industry.
After looking at the pie charts and data, it was easy to understand that for upcoming and independent artists this presentation marks a shift from vague or fake conversation to hard evidence. Independent artists don’t work under safety nets or control cash flow or any kind of HR support. They are their own independent entities, which is the cause of much uncertainty.
Stating the aim of this survey and the reason they undertook this, Balani stated that the study is to gain an understanding of the health and wellbeing of people working in the Indian music industry. “By this we hope to help and support industry-specific needs and challenges”.
The presentation stressed that the solution cannot rely on standard therapy alone. Malviya stated that the music industry must have "industry aware mental health professionals who understand creative precarity, touring pressure and uncertainty cash flow structure”. “Rather than telling artists to just toughen up isn’t the goal. What is needed is to build a safer, inclusive creative environment, peer support network and accessible aid”.
These findings brought out the reality of the mental health burden within India’s music industry, demanding urgent, inclusive and systemic action.
The session closed with a call to action on the screen flashing "It's Time To Act". A QR code covering all the reports was available to download for attendees.
The presentation surely gave an insight and a guide in helping out artists and focusing on the untouched areas of the music industry.
As mental health concerns have intensified since the pandemic, this book ‘Touring and Mental Health - The Music Industry Manual’ offers a keen understanding of the unique demands of artists and musicians in this changing cultural landscape.
Publisher: Omnibus Press
Publication date: 23rd March 2023
Language: English
Reviewed with inputs by Verus Ferreira
