New research launched into mental health and racism in music
Sony Music UK and Mind partner on the new research to support young people affected by racial trauma
New research will investigate the best mental health interventions for young people affected by racism.
Announced today (October 11) in a partnership launched by Sony Music UK and Mind called ‘Young People and Racial Trauma’ the research will “seek to understand the best blueprint for interventions and support.”
The initiative also highlighted that “statistics show that people from racialised groups may be more likely to experience mental health problems but less likely to receive appropriate mental health support”.
The project is part of the latest round of grants from Sony Music’s UK Social Justice Fund (SJF) which was created to support social justice, equal rights and anti-racist initiatives around the world.
The UK arm of the fund has awarded more than $1M in funding across 16 beneficiaries since launching.
Charlotte Edgeworth, director of diversity, inclusion and social impact for Sony Music UK, said: “Sony Music UK has been working with Mind for several years, delivering training and offering support for both employees and artists.
“This grant signifies a deepening of this important relationship, built on our dedication to improving mental health support for people experiencing the trauma of racism.”
Head of Equity at Mind, Marcel Vige, said: “We are thankful for this grant which will allow research into how we can better support the mental health of young people who experience racism. Racism, in any of its forms, affects our mental health, whether direct racial abuse, embedded or institutional bias, or wider systems of oppression.
“It can affect the way we feel about ourselves and how safe we feel. And it can contribute to particular mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.”
He added: “It’s so important that the UK invests in mental health support for people who experience racism, whilst also working to tackle racism at every level. Mind is committed to being an unflinching advocate for racial justice and mental health, as part of our ambition to become an anti-racist organisation.”
This wave of funding from the UK Social Justice Fund also includes grants for equality think tank The Runnymede Trust and national charity OnSide Youth Zone.
Edgeworth added: “This latest round of funding represents a development of the Social Justice Fund’s approach, building from our strong base of grassroots projects into addressing more embedded and structural challenges that we face as a society.”