September Marks National Suicide Prevention Month
NASHVILLE—The Country Music Association has pledged $100,000 to Music Health Alliance (MHA) to further support its critical work to provide music industry professionals with essential mental health services. The donation was made in honor of legendary Country Music artist and Country Music Hall of Fame member Naomi Judd.
Through MHA’s Mental Health Fund, the Nashville-based nonprofit provides access to mental health services including counseling, psychiatrist visits and screenings for qualified music industry professionals. The fund has provided more than 1,700 counseling sessions for the music industry since 2021.
“We often hear firsthand from CMA members and our music industry partners that mental health remains a critical issue for individuals within our business,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “While touring and other sectors have bounced back following the pandemic, we cannot underestimate the ongoing need to support those who are struggling. It was only a few months ago we lost the legendary Naomi Judd to suicide, a loss that affected our Country community deeply. We applaud the essential work that Tatum, Shelia, and the entire team at Music Health Alliance continues to provide to our industry, and we encourage anyone who might be struggling to reach out to their team.”
CMA’s new pledge follows previous financial support to MHA over the course of several years. Throughout the pandemic, CMA took action to support not only its membership and Country Music base but those in the music business at large affected by the health crisis through its Music Industry Covid Support (MICS) initiative, specifically prioritizing mental health resources.
“Because of its creativity and unique pressures, mental health has always been a challenge facing the music business,” says Tatum Allsep, MHA Founder & CEO. “The pandemic elevated the awareness and importance of mental health care for everyone, especially within our industry. Since 2020 MHA has had a 300% increase in requests for mental health support. In honor of our beloved Naomi Judd, we are so thankful for CMA’s pledge of support in addressing this most pressing and continuing need. Now more than ever before, mental health resources and access are critical.”
To learn more about Music Health Alliance, contact MHA at 615-200-6896 or info@musichealthalliance.com.
Request assistance at: musichealthalliance.com/request-assistance/
Donate to Music Health Alliance at: musichealthalliance.com/donate-to-heal/
About the Country Music Association
Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association is the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. Music industry professionals and companies across the U.S. and around the globe are members of CMA. The organization serves as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advances the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Fest, which benefits the CMA Foundation and music education and is taped for a three-hour network television special, “CMA Fest”; and “CMA Country Christmas.” All of CMA’s television properties air on ABC.
About Music Health Alliance
Founded in 2013 and based in Nashville, Music Health Alliance (MHA) has provided free healthcare advocacy and lifesaving support and resources to more than 18,000 music industry members across 49 states in the non-profit’s first nine years. MHA has supported songwriters, musicians, performers, producers, engineers, venue operators, artist managers, agents, publishers, business managers, and more by providing access to medicine, mental health resources, COVID-19 relief, diagnostic tests, lifesaving transplants, end of life care, and many other necessary services, saving more than $85,000,000 in healthcare costs for the nationwide music community in less than a decade. Entirely funded through grants and individual and corporate donations, financial support from the music community is critical to continue MHA’s advocacy and free services. For every $1 donation, MHA is able to provide $30 in life-saving healthcare resources to Heal The Music. MHA fights so those in our industry never have to feel alone in a health crisis and removes obstacles so patients can receive lifesaving care. All MHA services are free to any person who has worked in the music industry for three or more years or who has credited contributions to 4 commercially released recordings or videos. Spouses, partners, and children of qualifying individuals may also receive access to the non-profit’s services from birth to end of life. Learn more at musichealthalliance.com.
For more information about the Country Music Association, visit CMAworld.com.
CMA Press Contacts:
Catharine McNelly, CMA
Senior Director, Communications
Krista Dykes, CMA
Manager, Media Relations
Music Health Alliance Press Contacts:
Joseph Conner, Essential Broadcast Media
Cindy Hunt, Monarch Publicity
cindy.hunt@monarchpublicity.com
Carla Denham, Music Health Alliance