# Transcript: Tour Support 2.0: How Mental Health is Reshaping Live Music **Date:** March 13, 2026 · 10:30 PM **Session:** [Tour Support 2.0: How Mental Health is Reshaping Live Music](/sessions/2026-03-13/pp1162369-tour-support-2-0-how-mental-health-is-reshaping-live-music) ## Summary This session explores how mental health support is transforming the live music industry, moving beyond simply identifying problems to implementing actionable solutions. It highlights the collaborative efforts of organizations like the Country Music Association and Amber Health in providing resources for artists and their teams, fostering a culture of well-being and sustainability. Through personal stories, the panel demonstrates how prioritizing mental health not only improves individual lives but also enhances creative output and business success in a demanding industry. ## Topics `mental health` · `music industry` · `touring` · `artist well-being` · `mental health support` · `country music association` · `amber health` · `cultural shift` · `vulnerability` · `sustainable careers` ## Key Takeaways 1. Prioritizing mental health for artists and their teams is crucial for both personal well-being and professional success, leading to better performance and creative output. 2. Openly discussing mental health challenges and being vulnerable creates pathways for support and fosters a more empathetic and resilient industry culture. 3. Proactive mental health strategies, including therapy and group meditation, can help prevent burnout and equip individuals with tools to navigate the unique pressures of touring life. 4. Setting clear boundaries and adopting a "long game" perspective for careers, rather than constantly "striking while the iron is hot," leads to greater sustainability and balance. 5. Leaders and organizations have a responsibility to model and facilitate mental health support, recognizing that a healthy team is fundamental to a thriving business. ## Full Transcript Every one of us sitting in this room has been affected by the experience of what it means to be human and the way that weighs on our mental health. If it's not each of us directly, it's people we love and care about, family, friends, partners. In the music industry, mental health shows up for family, for artists, for team members, and crew members. We love doing these panels because we're sitting in the epicenter of what matters to human beings in this industry. Today, we get to talk a little bit about what it actually looks like to have solutions and support, moving beyond just addressing the problems. Hopefully, some of what you'll hear will not only inspire you about what artists are doing to care for themselves and what their teams are doing, but also what organizations like CMA are doing. The goal is to take away things for your own experience that enhance how you might move through being human. I'm Dr. Haimman, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Amber Health, where for the last handful of years, we've been leading the charge for support for humans in the music industry. Today, we'll share a story about an artist's journey, a manager supporting that journey, and the potential for good support in our industry. The Country Music Association, a trade association anchored in membership, prioritizes caring for its members, including artists. Our job is to respond to the evolving needs of the industry, and after the pandemic, we recognized a significant shift in mental health awareness. There was, and still is, a stigma around mental health, but something shifted during the pandemic: the teams around the artists were starting to crumble. They felt unsupported and struggled to navigate challenges like being off the road after a lifetime of touring. The industry was asking for help, acknowledging they weren't equipped to handle this alone and needed support for everyone in the ecosystem, not just the artists. We realized we had to double down because mental health affects every aspect of business and personal life, from clarity and focus to strategy and creativity. Our job is to respond to the need, and it's looked different every year. We sought individuals who understood the unique nature of our business, where extreme highs and lows can occur within an hour. It was the first time I spoke with people who came from the industry and didn't need explanations. It took time for the industry to feel safe enough to allow such vulnerability, but I'm glad our organization prioritized mental health. We know that if we don't take care of our people, we won't have a business to support. It's been a dream, and I'm thankful for tools and resources like Amber Health to support people like Wyatt and William. While there's a systemic need for mental health support, we also need to understand the personal impact. Wyatt, as your career began, what were some of the challenges, and how did it impact your mental health? I was just a kid from Stillwater, Oklahoma, a nobody, and then everything changed so fast. Everything I ever wanted started coming to life, but they don't tell you about all the other things that come with it. I went from being a nobody to somebody so quickly that I forgot who I was, and I lost it completely. I struggled with loneliness and my self-identity, trying to live through the chaos of road life without knowing how to deal with my feelings. I'd been talking about mental health for a while, even gaining fame from a song called 'Please Don't Go' about it. In 2023, I lost my grandfather to suicide, and though I'd lost friends before, I never thought it would happen in my family. In the midst of that, I was on my first headline tour, selling out tickets, and life was out of control. I tried to be strong for my team, leading them as a 'dumb ass kid,' and it worked for a while in the chaos. Then, in February 2024, everything fell apart: the band got the flu, we were severely depressed, and our drummer went home. By the time I showed up to Kane's Ballroom in Tulsa, a dream venue, I couldn't even enjoy it. I was so far down, I couldn't feel anymore, and music wasn't what I wanted because I hadn't worked on myself. I focused on 'Wyatt Flores, the artist' instead of who I actually was. That's when William said, 'Hey, bud, we're canceling most of these tour dates, and I'm sending you to a place called Onsite.' I thought it was a place with grippy socks, but that's where the healing process began. Onsite was one of the best weeks that ever could have happened to me. It's nice to talk about this on the other side, because the real-life moment of recognizing you lack the tools to deal with the greatest moments of your life, and the scale of it, is incredibly challenging. As a manager, my responsibility is to bolster Wyatt's success, but even with my own background in recovery and mental health, it can get lost in the face of success. It was a hard reckoning, feeling like a failure when we pulled those dates. Onsite, a group therapy retreat, allowed Wyatt to pause and do his work, but afterward, we had to figure out how to run a business around a new frame of thinking and build a culture that promotes mental health for everyone. It's courageous to stand on a stage and talk about your struggles, especially without a mic stand or guitar to hide behind. Traditionally, artists and crew have carried mental health struggles silently, with the industry ethos being 'the show must go on.' This meant suppressing feelings, but things started to shift 15-20 years ago after losing many artists tragically. The conversation moved from burying problems to acknowledging them, and then to finding solutions. Our goal was to move the conversation forward, identifying people and entities willing to drive solutions and shift the culture. CMA's leadership in this area, particularly for country music, was unexpected but vital. Initially, there were questions about what launching mental health resources truly meant. We had to get comfortable showing up as a leader, stating that mental health is important, valued, and something we'll continue to discuss to remove stigma. Country music thrives on community, and we needed to live that by taking care of each other. Over the last six years, we saw individuals shouldering more than they should, and as a board-governed organization, ensuring our board was aligned was crucial. The challenge wasn't getting approval, but education: talking through what mental health support looks like, acknowledging it's different for everyone. We have several mental health partners because needs vary from addiction to anxiety, specific to artists or teens. We are humans, not products, so there's no single template. We also had to educate our community on engaging proactively with mental health, not just reactively in crisis. While we're still working on that, a shift has occurred: people like Wyatt are more public about their journeys. When I see a team going through a crisis, like a bus accident or loss, I immediately tell them they need help, and our organization can guide them. This communal education helps shift our industry. Many people outside the touring world see it as glamorous, but those inside often feel 80% dead all the time. Touring presents a real struggle with meeting basic personal needs, like sleep, water, and even a good bathroom. You're separated from friends and family, dealing with recirculated air, and constantly facing conflicts that challenge your well-being. Flexibility is the hardest part of touring, and I'm learning to feel all my feelings, understand they're there, and just be present. When things go wrong, like not getting a shower or coffee, it throws off your routine. Sleep has been the toughest challenge for the entire crew; it's hard to go from the high energy of a show to silence and then try to sleep. Being in a different time zone and trying to connect with family also creates struggle. The most life-changing things for me have been understanding my feelings, being flexible, and giving myself grace, along with basic needs like drinking enough water and getting sleep. Through CMA, we've done something unprecedented: supporting artists like Wyatt earlier in their careers, who traditionally wouldn't have access to such resources. We also educate labels and business managers on the financial gains of prioritizing mental health; a healthy artist performs better, writes better, and is more creative. It's not just about talking out feelings; it shows up in their work. We encourage everyone to be more human, to ask 'how are you' and truly listen. Our connection to the grant came from redefining mental health in our framework. In Toronto, I spoke vulnerably about my mental health journey with a promoter, who happened to be a friend of Haim's. That simple act of talking about mental health built a new pathway, leading me to Haim. We connected quickly, and he shared about the upcoming CMA grant for therapy on the road, which we immediately committed to. Amber Health's model involves a team of therapists, all from the music industry, providing in-person support, virtual sessions, and group meditations before shows. The group meditations have helped everyone in the camp, bringing us together and improving our mood. Having therapists available for the entire crew has made a huge difference. We now have monthly meetings where we check in on everyone's well-being, not just their performance, asking 'What do you need help with?' and 'What can we do to change your day-to-day life?' It took time to shift the culture, but it happened. Initially, some crew members were hesitant about therapy, but after the first session, they realized it wasn't what they expected. By the third session, we had full adoption, with everyone participating in the group meditations, which brought a palpable energy to the room and the stage. This culture of prioritizing mental health has fortified us, making us resilient even in chaos. My driver started riding his bike daily, lost weight, and felt healthier, which improved his drumming. This shift in me wanting to do better personally has cascaded through the entire camp. We now set boundaries with our label, prioritizing time for creativity and balance, rather than constantly 'striking while the iron is hot.' This approach has led to consistent shows, no cancellations, and a successful new album, proving that mental health and business success amplify each other. --- *Source: stt · Language: en · Model: google-vertex/gemini-2.5-flash* [← Back to session](/sessions/2026-03-13/pp1162369-tour-support-2-0-how-mental-health-is-reshaping-live-music)