Behind The Great Big Shout Out: An Interview with Headstock Founder Atheer Al-Salim

Hey Atheer, can you start by giving a bit of background on Headstock and the purpose of this latest campaign:

“Headstock is a social enterprise based in Manchester, and we primarily exist to support the mental health of people working within the music industry. Towards the start of 2024 we announced a partnership with mental health charity, Shout, to launch ‘MUSIC’ 85258 – a free, confidential and 24/7 text support service for people working across the industry. The purpose of The Great Big Shout Out is to increase awareness around the service, whilst raising vital funds to support its ongoing delivery.”

How important are campaigns such as this one and why should the public get involved?

“The music industry is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis – not just in the UK but around the world. Research tells us that 73% independent musicians struggle with mental illness and people working within music are three times more likely to struggle with anxiety or depression compared to the general population. Without the music makers there would be no music, so it is imperative that the wider public get involved with this campaign to support the incredible music community who are responsible for putting on our favourite gigs, club nights and music festivals.”

Being a fund-raising mission, there’s plenty of scope for said public to organise their own events in the name of the cause. Are there resources available to help them produce such events?

“Absolutely. There is a dedicated campaign hub on the Shout website where anyone interested in finding out more about the campaign or how to get involved can download The Great Big Shout Out fundraising pack, along with loads of free resources including social assets, posters and flyers. We’re looking to get musicians, music students & colleges, organisations and live music venues involved in the
campaign and within the pack, there are loads of suggestions for how to participate.

“The campaign hub can be found here.”

How has support been from the industry? Can you tell us about the partners you’re working with or that have contributed to the cause?

“So far, support from the industry has been good. For example, the brilliant team at AO Arena are supporting the campaign by installing voluntary donation points next to the 10 free water fountains across their venue. We also have the likes of BIMM University involved, who are proactively encouraging their students to participate in the campaign by putting on local fundraising events. The campaign is also being
championed by singer-song writer and Shout patron, Will Young. Over the coming weeks we’re looking to get as many different people and organisations involved in the campaign as we can!”

 

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How beneficial to those working in the industry has the SHOUT 85258 text support service been so far?

“The MUSIC 85258 service provides a vital lifeline for people working within music, especially given the unsociable hours may people across the industry work. The 24/7 nature of the service means that support is always on hand, and we’re typically seeing people text the service very late at night or early in the morning. The key difference between the text support service and other helplines which exist to support the mental health of people working within music is the fact that ‘MUSIC’ 85258 is first-and-foremost a de-escalation service, providing in the moment support for anyone feeling anxious, distressed or suicidal. Since we launched the service last year, we’ve witnessed a steady increase in people using the service month-on-month and are seeing a lot of repeat texters.”

How exactly will the funds raised be used, and where can those looking to support donate?

“All money raised will go direct to Shout and funds will be used to support the ongoing delivery of the text support service. Just £10 can help someone in distress to access an hour of mental health support. £25 can provide a clinician to provide expert supervision of conversations with texters on Shout’s digital mental health platform. Whereas £250 can train a new Shout volunteer to take life-saving conversations.
Anyone wishing to donate can do so by visiting The Great Big Shout Out JustGiving page here.”

What plans do Headstock and Shout 85258 have for the future?

“In April 2024 Headstock put on a fundraising show in Manchester with Peter Hook & The Light, which raised an incredible £18,500 for Shout. We’re planning on working with another iconic Manchester band to put on a similar show later in the year. Watch this space for further details!”

What tools do you personally use to help you through challenging periods?

“There’s no doubt that working within the music industry comes with a unique set of challenges. Sadly, these challenges have been amplified in recent times by factors such as the cost-of-living crisis, plus the ongoing impact of Brexit and a global pandemic. As a result, the industry can be a tough place to work so it is imperative that people working within it prioritise self-care. On a very simplistic level, this means getting enough sleep, exercising, eating & drinking the right things, connecting with friends and getting out into nature. Organisations such as Music Minds Matter also run free, guided self-care sessions, which provide people with techniques for navigating their way through challenging times.

“And if things do get too much, it’s important to remember that free, confidential support is on hand, 24/7. Anyone struggling to cope can access mental health support by simply texting the word MUSIC to 85258.”

Learn more about The Great Big Shout Out by heading to: giveusashout.org/latest/the-great-big-shout-out