Mental wellbeing resources for music students, teachers and schools
Hattie Fisk
Monday, May 16, 2022
Originally launched to mark Mental Health Week, this live list of useful mental health resources for music students, teachers and schools is constantly being updated.
Adobe Stock/ Antonio Guillem
Music focused resources
Tune Up
This online resource gives registered schools the opportunity to lead arts specific activities for their pupils. With their programme, schools can engage professionals and arts companies and share their expertise in mental wellbeing and inclusivity.
Out of the Ark
With a website housing hundreds of singing resources for primary schools, Out of the Ark have now put together a playlist to help schools through the pandemic. They have collected songs that instil a sense of belonging and are great for helping children feel safe and cared for.
Mindful Tune-ups
Blending music and mindfulness, Mindful Tune-ups is a web app that delivers a randomly generated immersive soundscape to focus your students. With consistently updated bitesized mindfulness activities, the resources are ‘preparation free’ and are decided on by a randomiser wheel.
Summer of Singing
Sing Up, the Voices Foundation, Out of the Ark and Young Voices have joined forces to provide students and families with easy access to songs, ideas, tips, inspiration and CPD. Their Summer of Singing is aimed at safely reintroducing singing into children's lives in the wake of the pandemic, improving their mental wellbeing while also rebuilding school communities through singing together.
www.singup.org/summer-of-singing
Help Musicians
Help Musicians is an independent UK charity for professional musicians, producing health & welfare services, creative development funding and ground-breaking research. They also provide a mental health helpline for the entire music industry called Music Minds Matter.
Music Support
A UK charity, Music Support is for those employed by the British music industry and are affected by mental ill-health and/or addiction. The charity facilitates education and learning via workshops and training to individuals and organisations in the industry so they may be better equipped in the areas of awareness, early intervention and prevention.
A Young Freelancer's Guide to Mental Heath and the Music Industry
Created at the request of the MU's Young Members Network, this guide provides a helpful insight into working as a freelancer in the music industry. There are tips on identifying and managing anxiety and other issues.
musiciansunion.org.uk/a-young-freelancer-s-guide-to-mental-health-and-the-music-industry
Teachers
Education Support
Education Support is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of education staff. They support individuals, help schools, colleges and universities to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their staff. Their services include a free and confidential helpline that is open 24/7, staffed by qualified counsellors. They have recently released a guide for teachers and education staff against loneliness, in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation.
Mentally Healthy Schools
As well as their helpful blog post ‘10 tips for teaching and support staff’, Mentally Healthy Schools have a wealth of resources designed for school staff supporting children and young people’s mental health.
www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources
Mental Health Foundation
A number of digital resources and blog posts are available from the Mental Health Foundation, specialising in supporting teaching staff. These include tips on how to care for yourself, and also how to create a supportive environment for pupils in the classroom.
www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/make-it-count-guide-for-teachers
Headspace for Educators
This branch of headspace offers educators access to free mindfulness and meditation exercises and resources, and a free Headspace Meditation App.
Place2Be
This is an online mental health training course for teachers. The five-week programme is split into 15 minute sessions, adding up to just over an hour a week.
www.place2be.org.uk/our-services/services-for-schools/mental-health-champions-foundation-programme/
Students
Young Minds
Young Minds are the UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health. They offer a wide range of training courses and workshops, as well as a dedicated Young Minds blog sharing the perspectives of young people.
Every Mind Matters
This NHS website aims to support everyone, including children and young people, to feel more confident in taking action to look after their mental health and wellbeing. It promotes a range of self-care actions and has been adapted to include advice on how to take care of yourself throughout the pandemic.
Think Ninja
Think Ninja is an app designed to educate 10-18 year-olds on mental health and emotional wellbeing. It provides young people with skills that can be used to build resilience and stay well.
www.nhs.uk/apps-library/thinkninja
Rise Above
Aiming to build resilience and a positive mental health for those aged 10-16, this website has content surrounding remote schooling and how to deal with exam pressure. A number of informal blogs have been posted for the benefit of young people throughout the pandemic and in life past the classroom.
Place2Be
In addition to running Children's Mental Health Week from 7-13 February, Place2Be also provides a bank of online resources for students and teachers. The free website hosts recordings of 'Growth Stories' from influential figures for young people, including musician YolanDa Brown and Dr Alex George, where mental health is spoken about openly. There are also virtual assemblies that those learning from home can attend, and packs of mental health activities for primary and secondary students.
www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/
Wellbeing in the workplace
Fingerprint for Success
Providing workplaces with statistics and solutions, Fingerprint for Success have created an extensive yet colloquial blog post tackling stress and burnout. Not only do they provide crucial information surrounding the importance of positive work environments, but they also have a list of solutions and initiatives for workplaces to try.
www.fingerprintforsuccess.com/blog/wellbeing-at-work
Further information regarding mental health resources is available here. If you know of a mental health resource you think should be listed, email hattie.fisk@markallengroup.com.