Mental Health is A Branding Issue: Reframing Wellness As a Priority, Not a Perk

About this episode

Shen and Debbie discuss the importance of prioritizing mental health in the music industry and the need for cultural change.

In this episode, Shen sits down with Debbie Carroll, CMA Endowed Chair and Executive Director for the Center for Mental Health in Entertainment at Belmont University, to explore what it truly means to advocate for mental health education and resources within the music industry. Drawing on her work with MusiCares, Debbie sheds light on the often-overlooked majority of industry professionals who are overworked, underpaid, and under immense pressure. Her work today centers on preparing future music industry leaders and professionals with the emotional resilience they need to continue sharing much-needed art with the world. Together, Shen and Debbie examine how mental health is typically treated as a perk within company cultures rather than the cultural and systemic priority it should be. This conversation is a call to embrace our shared humanity at work, encouraging listeners to normalize hard conversations, recognize the signs of unhealthy culture, and lean into the power of community as a path toward healing and lasting change. To learn more about Debbie's work and the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, please visit the links below…

People in this episode

Host: Shenandoah Chefalo

Guest: Debbie Carroll

Topics covered

• mental health
• music industry
• advocacy
• work culture
• emotional resilience
• community support

Keywords

• mental health
• music industry
• advocacy
• emotional resilience
• work culture
• community
• wellness

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Center for Mental Health in Entertainment, Belmont University, MusiCares, Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business

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