Sound Mind: Mental Health and Recovery in the Music Industry – Part 2 On Posted on May 21, 2025 Part 2 Beyond the Party: Redefining Recovery in MusicFor a long time, the culture of the music industry celebrated the idea that heavy drinking, drug use, and constant partying were part of the job, even a badge of honor. Today, that’s changing. Slowly but surely, a healthier conversation around recovery is reshaping what it means to work and thrive in the business of music. At SIMS, our clients make it clear – recovery doesn’t have a single definition. For the people behind the music, the recovery journey is as deeply personal as the music itself. The Industry’s Complicated Relationship with SubstancesMusic and nightlife have always been connected. For so many members of the music industry workforce, festivals, bars, clubs, green rooms, and afterparties are their workplace. The normalization of substance misuse/abuse has real costs: addiction, mental health struggles, financial instability, sexual harassment or assault, broken relationships, and damaged careers are just a few. And it’s not just artists who feel it. Anyone in the music industry orbit faces the very same risks. Even now, seeking help can feel like breaking an unspoken rule: “This is just how it is. This is what the lifestyle demands.” But there are encouraging signs that members of the music industry are starting to push back. A New Era of RecoveryAcross the music community, a growing number of people are choosing different paths:Well-known artists are speaking openly about mental health, sobriety, and relapse.“Sober touring” is becoming a real, supported option.Harm reduction is finally being recognized as a valid approach to recovery. The outdated thinking of the past (sobriety can only mean abstinence) is falling to the wayside.Recovery now means more than just one version of sobriety. It can look like setting limits. It can look like mental health support without judgment – finally! Now it means managing use in ways that protect work, relationships, and health. Most importantly of all, it means making room for people to ask for help without fear of losing their careers. How SIMS Supports Recovery on Every LevelAt SIMS, we meet people where they are in their mental health and recovery journeys. We remain proud of the client-centered approach we’ve always had when it comes to behavioral healthcare. Whether our clients are seeking detox support, abstinence from substance use, harm reduction strategies, or simply a way to get through another day safely, we can help. We will continue to encourage our clients to define their own recovery goals. And we’ll do it like we always have – without judgment.We offer:Individual therapyPsychiatric careRecovery support groupsAcute careOngoing case management to help people stay connected Recovery can’t be a prescribed set of steps. So, neither is our approach to support. Every member of the music industry deserves the right to create their own self-directed path to health. We’re here for it. PreviousPrevious post:Sound Mind: Mental Health and Recovery in the Music Industry – Part 1 Back to Main All Stories NextNext post:Sound Mind: Mental Health and Recovery in the Music Industry – Part 3
Part 2 Beyond the Party: Redefining Recovery in MusicFor a long time, the culture of the music industry celebrated the idea that heavy drinking, drug use, and constant partying were part of the job, even a badge of honor. Today, that’s changing. Slowly but surely, a healthier conversation around recovery is reshaping what it means to work and thrive in the business of music. At SIMS, our clients make it clear – recovery doesn’t have a single definition. For the people behind the music, the recovery journey is as deeply personal as the music itself. The Industry’s Complicated Relationship with SubstancesMusic and nightlife have always been connected. For so many members of the music industry workforce, festivals, bars, clubs, green rooms, and afterparties are their workplace. The normalization of substance misuse/abuse has real costs: addiction, mental health struggles, financial instability, sexual harassment or assault, broken relationships, and damaged careers are just a few. And it’s not just artists who feel it. Anyone in the music industry orbit faces the very same risks. Even now, seeking help can feel like breaking an unspoken rule: “This is just how it is. This is what the lifestyle demands.” But there are encouraging signs that members of the music industry are starting to push back. A New Era of RecoveryAcross the music community, a growing number of people are choosing different paths:Well-known artists are speaking openly about mental health, sobriety, and relapse.“Sober touring” is becoming a real, supported option.Harm reduction is finally being recognized as a valid approach to recovery. The outdated thinking of the past (sobriety can only mean abstinence) is falling to the wayside.Recovery now means more than just one version of sobriety. It can look like setting limits. It can look like mental health support without judgment – finally! Now it means managing use in ways that protect work, relationships, and health. Most importantly of all, it means making room for people to ask for help without fear of losing their careers. How SIMS Supports Recovery on Every LevelAt SIMS, we meet people where they are in their mental health and recovery journeys. We remain proud of the client-centered approach we’ve always had when it comes to behavioral healthcare. Whether our clients are seeking detox support, abstinence from substance use, harm reduction strategies, or simply a way to get through another day safely, we can help. We will continue to encourage our clients to define their own recovery goals. And we’ll do it like we always have – without judgment.We offer:Individual therapyPsychiatric careRecovery support groupsAcute careOngoing case management to help people stay connected Recovery can’t be a prescribed set of steps. So, neither is our approach to support. Every member of the music industry deserves the right to create their own self-directed path to health. We’re here for it.