Philip Selway’s Mental Health Touring Scheme
The world of music touring is a dazzling spectacle of energy and achievement, but beneath the bright lights and roaring crowds, the reality for artists and crew often involves immense pressure. The demands of the road can quickly transform dreams into a volatile mix of excitement, exhaustion, and anxiety. Recognizing this invisible strain, a new initiative is stepping in to ensure that mental well-being is not just an afterthought, but a fundamental part of the touring experience.
Titled the Pay It Forward Fund, this scheme, spearheaded by the Music Industry Therapy Collective (MITC), is designed to deliver essential, specialist mental health support to artists and their teams, particularly those working on smaller and mid-scale tours. These productions, while equally ambitious, often operate with tighter budgets and leaner teams, meaning they are the most vulnerable to the compounding pressures of work, travel, and financial strain.
The realization that touring professionals face an “elevated risk of stress, anxiety and burnout, as well as clinical depression and suicidality” is increasingly being acknowledged. The fund addresses the critical gap that often exists: smaller teams rarely have the resources to offer the same tools for talking, reflecting, and resetting during demanding periods.
The Pay It Forward Fund fills this void by offering confidential conversations with qualified mental health practitioners who genuinely understand the unique realities of the music and touring landscape. This support is available online around the clock and in several languages, ensuring that help is accessible no matter where or when a tour takes place.
Beyond confidential consultations, the scheme offers a holistic approach. Touring teams can utilize Tour Check-Ins, allowing anyone on the crew to decompress after a difficult day, process decisions, reflect on coping habits, and manage team tension.
Furthermore, the fund includes valuable practical resources, such as 90-minute occupational health consultations with MITC’s Touring Welfare Officer Sascha Heeney—who has supported major tours like Dua Lipa’s ‘Radical Optimism’ tour—as well as healthy touring workshops and essential guides. Access to MITC’s audiobook, ‘Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual,’ provides further education on navigating the industry.
This commitment is backed by major industry figures, including support from names such as Radiohead, Live Nation, AEG International, and Live Free 999. This collective investment demonstrates a shared understanding that the health of the touring ecosystem is crucial for the success and sustainability of the entire music industry.
As Tamsin Embleton, founder of the MITC, puts it, the goal is to move beyond waiting for a crisis to strike. The fund seeks to help forward-thinking teams develop the skills to manage pressure, recognize when things are taking a toll, and intervene effectively before stress snowballs into serious issues.
By prioritizing proactive mental health support, this initiative aims to ensure that the dream of touring can be pursued with greater resilience, care, and sustained well-being for everyone involved.
Eligible artists, crew, and tour teams can find details on how to apply for this vital scheme by visiting the dedicated link.
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