Let's Talk About Mental Health: World Mental Health Day 2020

By Devin Renspie

Find a list of mental health resources by scrolling down the article or see them here.

 
 

When I work with artists, I sometimes feel like a large chunk of my job is to protect them from burnout and provide them encouragement when the industry gets them down. Personally, I have the same struggle that my artists do. Burnout is real, and some weeks I feel like a failure when I cannot get any doors to open for the talented people that I represent. Add in a pandemic, lost wages, cancelled shows, and double the work for half of the pay, and it's been a crazy combination of bad these days. One of the ways I am combatting the burnout and depression is carving out a consistent chunk of time for myself, and letting my staff and artists know that I am taking a mental break for my own sanity. I have decided to start taking 3 hours off on Tuesday mornings, and let me tell you… it has been life changing. Sometimes it's the little things we do for ourselves that can turn the tides.

-Erin Anderson

 
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When talking to team members and artists this week about mental health, I was confronted with the reality that it’s very hard to share about our own journeys! The sentiment that kept coming up was, “I don’t feel equipped to share because I’m still on my mental health journey. I’m not perfect.” This resonated with me because that’s just it. None of us have our mental health completely in check and squared away because it’s an ongoing and ever-changing situation, but when we talk about this we realize that it’s OK not to have all of our shit together all the time. Lately, I’ve realized I’m at my best when I’m making a point to connect with others. It’s easy to get into a pattern of isolation during this wild year, but if you spontaneously call up a friend, chances are your day will get better. It’s OK to ask for help, and it’s OK to lean on your nearest and dearest.

-Maggie Adams

 
 

Everyone’s journey with mental health looks and feels a little different. One common denominator, however, is how real it is. Everyday, I’m learning something new about myself, my own mental health, and what that can look like for me. I’ve always struggled with allowing myself to feel any sort of emotion, ultimately suppressing what makes me human. I’m not always the happy and sunny person that I want those around me to believe I am, and that’s okay. For me, it’s working on being open, honest, vulnerable, and reaching out for help. It’s allowing myself the space to healthily process what I need to in my own time.

-Mackenzie Fey

 
 

My mental health is something that I've struggled with for a long time. While I have worked hard to get to where I am now, there are still days when I feel overwhelmed by feelings of depression and anxiety. With everything occurring in our country and in our world, I have found it especially important to make sure that I am carving out time for myself. For me, this looks like scheduling a few hours a week to get my thoughts out in the form of journaling or poetry/lyrics and to work on making or accomplishing something for myself, such as writing music. I also have found the need to remind myself to take the time to chat online with friends that I can't see in person and that it's okay to just exist for a bit without tending to any responsibilities. I think it's essential for us to stay focused on the things and people we love so that we can remember why we're here when times are tough.

-Devin Renspie

 

Mental Health Resources

 

Below are a few resources we’ve compiled that we’ve personally used and/or think could be useful to you. Find comfort in knowing that you’re never alone in what you’re going through and that these feelings are temporary. Never give up on yourself because you are worth more than the space you take up in this world.

 

Immediate Assistance/24-Hour Helplines

In case of an emergency, or if you or someone you know is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others, please call 911 or your local emergency number.

 
 

Nashville-Based Resources

  • Entertainment Health Services (EHS) - receive counseling, life coaching, and workshops from counselors who understand the demands of the entertainment industry.

  • Porter's Call - obtain short-term counseling, encouragement, and support geared toward touring artists at no charge.

  • Onsite Workshops - travel to a rustic retreat environment that offers six-day group programs, residential treatment, intensive individual counseling, adventure therapy, and professional training.

  • Empower Music Therapy - Adult support group (virtual) every 3rd Thursday of the month. Also offers music therapy and music lessons for mental health and transitional challenges of all ages

  • Nashville Therapist Resource Doc - short list of reputable Nashville therapists

 
 

Music Industry-Specific Resources

  • MusiCares - receive short-term financial assistance for personal or addiction needs.

  • Music Health Alliance - get health-related guidance and assistance in paying medical bills.

  • Backline Care - connect with a case manager who can direct you to mental health and wellness resources.

 
 

National Resources

 
 

Resources for Specific/Minority Populations

 
 

International Resources

  • OK Rehab - read about addiction treatment options for yourself or others

  • World Health Organization (WHO) - learn more about this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign and its focus on investment in mental health.

  • 7 Cups - get online self-help guides, support chat rooms, and online therapy.

 
 

Useful Apps

  • Calm (iOS | Android) - access guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, and relaxing music for $12.99 a month.

  • Headspace (iOS | Android) - get guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, and relaxing music for $12.99 a month (or $9.99 per year for students).

  • Simple Habit (iOS | Android) - access guided meditations focused on various life challenges for free.

  • Calm Harm (iOS | Android) - learn to manage self-harm urges with DBT-based principles and distractions for free.

  • Sanvello (iOS | Android) - learn CBT techniques to track and better deal with mental health concerns for free.

  • CBT Thought Diary (iOS | Android) - learn to reframe your thinking by tracking your thoughts and identifying cognitive distortions for free.

  • MY3 (iOS | Android) - develop a suicide safety plan and trusted network for times of crisis for free.

  • What’s Up (iOS | Android) - learn CBT and ACT methods to better cope with depression, anxiety, anger, stress, and more for free.

  • eMoods (iOS | Android) - track and learn to manage your moods for free. Designed specifically for those with bipolar disorder, but useful for everyone.

  • MoodTools (iOS | Android) - alleviate negative moods by utilizing a thought diary, activities, a suicide safety plan, and self-help guides for free.

  • Recovery Record (iOS | Android) - manage your recovery from disordered eating by recording your food, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors for free.

  • PTSD Coach (iOS | Android) - manage PTSD symptoms with information about professional care, a self-assessment for PTSD, opportunities to find support, and tools that can help users manage the stresses of daily life for free.

  • Nomo (iOS | Android) - track your sobriety/recovery from negative habits with clocks that show your milestones and the benefits you are receiving from recovery for free.

  • Lifesum (iOS | Android) - access resources to increase your overall health and fitness for free.

 
 

My Favorite Songs by Smooth Hound Smith

by Kaila Divak

When I was first researching Olivia Management, before I applied to intern here, I looked through all of their artists’ catalogs. I was really into everything that they put out, but I was particularly drawn towards one duo, and that was Smooth Hound Smith. I was obsessed with their harmonies, a mix of country and blues. Honestly, it was hard for me to even make that comparison because I think that they have so many different genres of music stitched into their three albums that it’s almost impossible to pin them within one.

But my all-time favorite song by them came out after I had discovered them. I would have to say that their newest single, “Little Rock N Roll Clubs”, is by far my favorite song that they’ve ever released. I had the privilege of listening to it to create social media content prior to the release, and I found myself walking around my house, doing something mundane like cooking or cleaning, and singing the song. I wanted to play it on Spotify so badly that I even looked it up a few times, remembering mid-search that the single wasn’t out until August 28th. “Little Rock N Roll Clubs” is a tribute to independent music venues across the world that have been getting hit hard due to concerts and other events being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This song was written with Save Our Stages, the National Independent Venue Association, and the National Independent Talent Organization in mind. So not only is it an amazing song, it also has some purpose behind it, which makes you feel good.

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My second favorite song by Smooth Hound Smith is for sure “Steal Your Crown” off of their 2013 record, Smooth Hound Smith. This song has such a real rockabilly feel, like they were playing homage to The Black Keys and Thickfreakness. Every last detail down to the harmonica, tambourine, fuzzy guitar, and the steady drumbeat compliment Zack’s growly vocals and Caitlin’s harmonies perfectly. This song makes you want to get up and sing a karaoke song at a dive bar. I love to play this one while driving on the highway, with all of my windows down. And I’m sure you’d feel the same way.

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My third and final favorite song would definitely be “Stopgap Woman Blues” off of their sophomore album, Sweet Tennessee Honey. For some reason, whenever I listen to this song, I think of “Black Country Woman” by Led Zeppelin. I don’t know if it’s the way the drums enter later on in the song, or the gritty guitar melody, but it gets me every time. The music video for this song also makes me laugh, but it’s true.

And I’ve missed so many amazing songs that Smooth Hound Smith has recorded, because if I listed all of the songs that I loved by them, this post be way too long long. They really do blend so many genres together to make an extremely unique genre of their own.

Maintaining your Work/Life Balance

By Emma Martin

Being at home for the past six months has been interesting and quite an adjustment. Balancing work, personal life, and schoolwork has become harder than ever, thanks to the pandemic, because we have had to move our offices into our houses, meaning we can’t leave our work at the office since the office is now the living room. For me, it has taken some time to figure out how to balance my classes, an internship, and my personal life while stuck at home, away from campus and the office, but I have found ways to enjoy my time at home.

Take breaks:

I am sure you have heard it a million times before, but taking a break from work during the day can help you balance your work life and personal life. Consider setting aside time during the day to go on a walk, go for a drive, or call a family member or friend. After the break, you’ll feel much more refreshed and productive since you will have had a change of scenery and a chance to step a way for a minute.

Time Management/Routine:

Something that I have gotten really good at during quarantine is time management. Between summer classes and an internship, I have had to manage time differently than before. Unlike previous semesters, I did not have a set schedule for when classes met, but I was fortunate to have a set schedule for when I was interning, which helped me set aside other times when I needed to be working on my summer classes. I set my weekdays so that I worked on schoolwork and interned on Monday-Thursday which meant that I could have Friday and the weekends to relax. Having a routine has been helpful when trying to make time for myself.

Talk to friends and family:

I have always found it nice to talk to friends and family about what they are up to. In times like these, it can be hard to connect with others since we can’t physically be together, but a phone call or FaceTime call can take your mind off of work for a while. If you can’t talk on the phone, shoot them a text to let them know that you’re thinking of them!

Turn off your phone:

This is something that I need to get better at doing since I use my phone all the time. Before I go to bed, I turn it on Airplane mode so that I don’t get any notifications until my alarm goes off and I am ready to start my workday. Something I have learned while interning is to turn off notifications after you are done with the workday. Constant emails and notifications can be overwhelming when you are trying to have time for yourself. It’s easy for me to get wrapped up in what is happening after hours when I have notifications on.

Healthy Ways to Spend Our Time

By Jackie Minton

 With COVID—19 on the move, suddenly we are not. Each day more schools, offices, workplaces, and venues are calling off their plans or trading face to face contact for the internet. Hand washing and social distancing are on the forefront of our community’s conscience. In this time of being tempted to despair, let’s not let loneliness be the undisputed answer. Here are a few healthy and safe ways to spend the precious day we’ve been given! Let’s not take it for granted. For official information regarding the virus, follow this link.

Call Mom

As Ben Rector wisely put it, “she’s the only mother that you have.” If calling mom isn’t an option—or you just got off the phone. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while! Catch up and listen. How often we wish we had more time for these simple things.

Get Some Exercise 

Now is the time! If going outside is a safe option, take a walk. If not, move the couch over and find a simple work out video on YouTube. Pilates and yoga are great options that do not require a lot of space. Follow along and go easy on yourself! If you’re quarantined with a roommate or family member, make this a group activity (6 feet apart :D)! 

Read That Book

Yes, that one. The one that has been sitting on your shelf, that you’ve been meaning to get around to. Balance your screen time by rewarding time spent reading with an episode of your favorite TV show. You won’t regret this one.

Listen to Something New

Ask your friends what’s tunes have lifted their spirit and what podcasts have challenged their mindset. Never taken a deep dive into jazz? Checkout the discography of Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald. Ever wondered why your friend was so fired up about an artist? Ask for their top 3 tracks and give them an attentive ear.

Get Creative

Do you have an instrument in your house you’ve always wanted to play? Look up instructional videos and set aside half an hour each day to picking it up. Not the musical type? Make a work of art! Follow a long a sketch video, learn how to imitate calligraphy, write a poem. Now is not the time for perfection, but for fun!

Share Your Discoveries

Authenticity can be the hardest thing to find on social media these days. Share your thoughts, your readings, and maybe even your new artistic work! Your loved ones will be glad to hear from you and to see something breaking up their feed of unproductive worry. 

“If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”
— C.S. Lewis, "On Living in an Atomic Age" (1948)
Photo by Da Kraplak from Unsplash

Photo by Da Kraplak from Unsplash

From all of us at Olivia, cheers to the day at hand!

C.S. Lewis quote is from his essay, “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948)