🎙️ Podcast 008 – Stigma & Mental Health in Music

Hosts: Stuart (aka @psychosis0161) & Katie Neall
Special Guest: Amey St Cyr

When we talk about music, we often celebrate the creativity, the energy and the connection it brings. But behind the spotlight, many musicians carry invisible struggles. Mental health challenges are still surrounded by stigma, misunderstandings, silence and judgement that can weigh heavier than the music itself.

In this episode, we're diving into how stigma shapes the lives of artists and how it impacts their careers, and why breaking the silence matters not just for musicians, but for all of us.

Katie and Stuart are joined by Amey St Cyr, a dynamic artist, presenter, and creative mentor whose work champions empowerment, authenticity, and expression. Drawing on her lived experience across music, media, and advocacy, Amey brings honesty, insight, and warmth to the conversation.

A powerful discussion about creativity, confidence, recovery, and community through music. 💚🎶

🎙️ Hosts: Stuart (aka Psychosis 0161) & Katie Neall

🌟 Special Guest: Sybil Adelaja

In today's episode we're diving into the topic of sleep hygiene – what it is, why it matters, and how music can play a surprising role in helping us wind down, relax and get better rest. Whether you're struggling with insomnia or just lookingto improve your nightly routine we’ll share insights tips and sounds that support healthier sleep and a calmer mind. So, grab your headphones, get cosy, and let's tune in to the rhythms of rest.

✨ Brought to you by Key Changes (⁠⁠https://keychanges.org.uk/⁠) - promoting positive mental health through music in hospitals and thecommunity.

🎙️ Hosts: Stuart (aka Psychosis 0161) & Katie

🌟 Special Guest: Terror Telboy

In this episode of The Music and Mental Health Podcast, we discuss dealing with being a perfectionist.

Perfectionism might sound like a badge of honour. But for many creatives it’s a silent killer of momentum, confidence and joy. This episode we’re unpacking how the pressure to get it right can paralyse progress fuel self-doubt and drain the soul of music making. Whether it’s obsessing over a vocal take, re-writing the same verse for weeks or never releasing your work at all, perfectionism can keep us stuck.

✨ Brought to you by Key Changes (⁠https://keychanges.org.uk/⁠) , promoting Positive Mental Health Through Music in hospitals and the community.

🎙️ Hosts: Stuart (aka Psychosis 0161) & Katie

🌟 Special Guest: Bonnie Hel

In this episode of The Music and Mental Health Podcast, we discuss overcoming trauma through music.

Music can be both a lifeline and a language that helps people feel seen, heard and connected. Not just to others but to their own internal world. And perhaps that's the most powerful part - in finding the right lyric, the right note or the right beat, people can often find themselves.

✨ Brought to you by Key Changes (https://keychanges.org.uk/) , promoting Positive Mental Health Through Music in hospitals and the community.

Hosts Stuart (aka Psychosis 0161) & Katie Neal explore the world of music and mental health.

🌟 Special Guest: Rebel Outlaw
In this episode of The Music and Mental Health Podcast, we dive deep into the connection between music, performance, and anxiety. Whether it’s stepping onto the stage, hitting record, or simply sharing your voice — performance can bring out both passion and panic.

Today, we’re peeling back the curtain on performance anxiety:

💭 Shaky hands. Racing hearts.
🎶 Real stories. Real struggles.
🫁 Learning to breathe through the fear.

Anxiety might never fully disappear, but it doesn’t have to define the stage. The more we talk about it, the less power it holds — and the more freedom we get to create, connect, and express...

Whether you're in the spotlight or behind the scenes, your feelings are valid.

✨ Brought to you by Key Changes, promoting Positive Mental Health Through Music in hospitals and the community.

Hosts Stuart aka Psychosis 0161 and Katie explore the world of music and mental health. Today we're tuning in to a powerful trio, food, mood, and music. Musicians often focus on practice, performance, and creativity. But what's on the plate can be just as influential as what's on the playlist. From energy crashes to emotional highs, the connection between nutrition and mental health plays a quiet but crucial role in how artists feel, focus and flourish. Musicians are often seen as emotional storytellers. But behind the scenes, their mental health and creative energy are deeply influenced by something surprisingly simple - food. In this episode, we explore how what we eat can affect how we play.

Hosts Stuart aka Psychosis 0161 and Katie explore the world of music and mental health. Social media has become a powerful amplifier for musicians, but it also blurs the line between self-expression and self-validation. In an industry where visibility often feels like currency, the pressure to perform online can deeply affect self-worth. In this episode, we aim to explore how artists navigate the emotional highs and lows of digital life, and what it means to stay authentic in a curated world.

Hosts Stuart aka Psychosis 0161 and Katie explore the world of music and mental health. From intimate open mics in bars or clubs to packed out arenas the world of music has always danced with temptation. But behind the legends and the lyrics lie a more complex tune - one of struggle, survival and sobriety. In this episode we step beyond the spotlight to explore how musicians confront the highs and lows of drinking, drugs and the pursuit of a clean and creative path. Special guest: Tuesday Blue.

The Music and Mental Health Podcast is brought to you by Key Changes: Positive Mental Health Through Music, a charity that provides music and wellbeing programmes in hospitals and the community.