Landmark Mental Health Study Reveals Crisis In Canadian Music Industry
- May 13
- 2 min read
“Soundcheck: Mental Health in the Canadian Music Industry” is the first national study of its kind. This is a National Report released in January 2026 by Catherine Harrison and Revelios. It disclosed that 94% of music professionals view mental health issues as “prevalent” in their industry, and 53% have felt that life was not worth living.
The report starts off explaining, "Despite its cultural and economic importance, the Canadian music industry has lacked national, Canada-specific mental health data, leaving a critical evidence gap as workers face rising pressure from precarious work, industry demands, and broader societal instability."
The Soundcheck Study seeks to fill this gap through a comprehensive national mixed-methods initiative, resulting in a final report. The survey data comes from over 1,216 participants, complemented by focus groups, interviews, and longitudinal field observations to guide actionable, industry-wide changes. Over 1,250 music workers took part in this effort.
"Canadian music workers experience mental health challenges at rates meeting or exceeding those documented internationally. While the landmark UK study by Gross and Musgrave (2016, 2020) found 71% of professional musicians reported anxiety and 68% reported depression, Soundcheck data shows equal or higher prevalence: 86% reported anxiety, 70% persistent sadness, and 67% feelings of worthlessness or guilt," explains the study.
What are the key findings?
Mental health challenges are pervasive across the industry (50-86%), with significantly elevated rates compared to the general Canadian workforce (~12%):
Key stressors include financial instability (84%), unpredictable work schedules, and pressure to perform.
Systemic obstacles such as stigma (72%), insufficient resources, and lack of adequate workplace support (84%) hinder many from obtaining necessary care and maintaining mental well-being.
Demographic factors like gender, age, and race intersect with industry-specific issues, leading to increased vulnerabilities.
The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing economic instability have exacerbated existing mental health challenges.
Want to know the names behind the study?
The Lead Researcher is Catherine Harrison, M.A. Psych, responsible for Study design, research, analysis, reporting, authoring, data management, project stewardship, and communications.
This is the Research Team:
Karen Hidalgo, MEd – Survey design and data analytics
Jada Watson, PhD – Research advisor (survey design, data interpretation)
Jeordie Shenton, PhD – Research advisor (survey design)
Shanna Peck – Data analyst (phase 1 preliminary report)
Elena Sheldrake, PhD – Data analysis and research assistance
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