Backline and Sweet Relief Musicians Fund have teamed up to establish the Music’s Mental Health Fund, which will help provide no-cost therapy to music industry professionals in need. The organizations are holding an auction fundraiser to launch the initiative, with one-of-a-kind prizes including signed guitars from Bob Weir, Sturgill Simpson, and Judas Priest, Dave Matthews Band tickets, and other music memorabilia.
Backline and Sweet Relief provide mental health and financial support to the music industry, respectively. Backline’s Case Management service assesses and refers music industry professionals to care providers, organizations, and financial services based on their needs, resources, and location. Clients who are not able to afford the mental health care recommended to them will now be able to apply for a grant via Sweet Relief’s Music’s Mental Health Fund that is intended to cover unmet costs for a specified number of sessions with a dedicated clinician.
To formally launch the fund, Sweet Relief and Backline are holding an auction on social impact platform Propeller, with hopes to raise $100,000 toward Music’s Mental Health Fund—enough to provide mental health resources to approximately 250 music industry professionals and family members in need. Bidding will close May 31st at 6 p.m. ET.
Up for auction are one-of-a-kind items including Bishop Briggs’ custom Coachella outfit, signed instruments from Chris Tile, Dave Mason, and Steve Martin, a signed, unreleased Dawes record, a signed album from Leon Bridges, signed Soundwave prints from My Morning Jacket, Fall Out Boy, and Larry David, and more. There are also sweepstakes opportunities to attend some of the country’s premier concerts and music festivals including The Disco Biscuits, Luck Reunion, Lollapalooza, Electric Forest, and more. You could even enter for a chance to win a trip to meet Mandy Moore in L.A. View all of the auction items and sweepstakes and place bids here.
Music lovers from all walks of life can take part in this monumental opportunity to support a program that breaks down stigma and financial barriers to accessing support.
Visit Backline and Sweet Relief‘s websites for more information about the organizations and the many ways they support music industry professionals.