As Christmas approaches and many offices including our own close for a few days to end 2020, we are very much aware that the need for mental health support amongst performers won’t change.
Indeed at BAPAM during the course of this year we have seen a big increase in those reaching out with mental health problems.
Speaking at our first CPD event held for Practitioners titled: Lockdown Health of Performance Professionals, BAPAM CEO, Claire Cordeaux, talked about the factors that were creating this need for support. She mentioned experience of patients’ struggles with loss of work and worries about sustaining their career, impacts on creativity and identity, and feelings of demotivation.
In practical terms she said:
Our case mix changed – fewer work-related musculoskeletal problems, and a considerable increase in people presenting with mental health problems (up from 15% to 26% of total cases). Of these, around a third of people presented with moderate to severe mental health problems (previously 12%)
Seeing these statistics and the obvious need for consistent and ongoing support and signposting we have also created a factsheet for those needing immediate help in a mental health crisis. It includes information about all the organisations who can help.
BAPAM Factsheet – Mental Health Support in a Crisis
Meantime we continue to provide free mental health assessments for performers with our GPs and psychologists. However, please note our office hours during this end of year period.
29th – 31st December – Office open
1st January 2021 – closed
4th January – Offices reopen
Clinics start again from the week beginning January 4th.