No one would doubt that these have been challenging times emotionally for everyone, particularly those employed in the creation and production of brand content. To that end, the Association of Music Producers is taking action, inviting the industry at large to an evening of mindfulness as it hosts a virtual panel on mental health and wellness.
Titled “Mental Health in the Creative Industry,” the event will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT. It’s free to attend but registration is required here.
Led by Matt Nelson, executive producer at Yessian, the panel will be a conversation among peers with a goal of sparking dialogue. The panelists will speak to their own personal experiences on how their careers have affected their mental wellness and how they have navigated through mental health challenges.
Taking part, in addition to Nelson, will be Brad Nayman, sound designer at Light Post Sound; Brandy Ricker, independent music supervisor; and Liana Rosenberg, sr. producer at Heard City.
Nelson will be following up after the panel to share a variety of resources, links and publications, all focused on helping people find sources of strength and composure during rocky times in their lives. He’ll also stress that the panelists are not trained professionals, and what they discuss is not meant to be a substitute for actual therapy.
“We’re all sharing our own stories of making mental health and wellness a priority in our lives,” Nelson said. “We’ll talk about challenges that are universal to everyone in our industry, and in a lot of cases universal to humanity. That’s really the key here – mental health and wellness is something everyone deals with, but is often overlooked, ignored or actively dismissed. We think it’s time to talk about it, break down barriers, understand we’re not alone and hopefully in some cases save lives.”
The panel is designed to include both the freelance and staff points of view on the issue, Nelson noted, with an emphasis on the unique circumstances that impact those in a demanding creative industry such as advertising. Issues like managing stress with a constant sense of urgency, rushed deadlines, feeling like “I need to get everything done” or working crazy hours. “For many of us, our jobs are a huge part of our personal narrative and sense of self,” he added. “So discussing mental wellness as it relates to our work in the creative industry as part of this panel just seemed like a natural fit.
“My goal with this event is to encourage those already focused on mental wellness to spread the word, and for those that have no knowledge or experience to feel like they can seek treatment without feeling judged,” Nelson continued. “Interest in this issue is growing, and I’m happy to say that as an industry, we’re starting to embrace the concepts of mindfulness, but there’s still much work to be done. Mental Wellness treatment is still a social taboo/stigma for many communities, and the only way we can change that is to talk about it and share our experiences.”
