Nova Scotia singer-songwriter says new national findings reflect realities many artists have faced for years
Award-winning musician and psychology graduate has spent a decade advocating for mental health awareness in the industry
MAHONE BAY, N.S. — A landmark national study examining mental health in Canada’s music industry is drawing renewed attention to the pressures faced by artists and industry professionals, with Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Jon Mullane emerging as one of the voices connecting the findings to lived experience.
The newly released “Soundcheck: Mental Health in the Canadian Music Industry” study found that 94 per cent of music professionals consider mental health challenges to be prevalent within the industry, while 53 per cent reported having felt that life was not worth living. For Mullane, those findings confirm what he says many musicians have quietly endured for years.
“When ‘Soundcheck: Mental Health in the Canadian Music Industry’ – the first national study of its kind – revealed this month that 94% of music professionals consider mental health issues ‘prevalent’ in their industry, and that 53% have felt that life was not worth living, Jon Mullane was not surprised,” according to information released alongside the study’s publication.
The Mahone Bay-based artist has built a career spanning five albums, multiple Billboard Top 40 singles and performances at venues ranging from the House of Blues in Hollywood to the Molson Canadian Centre. His recent EP, The Road, co-written in Nashville with Grammy-nominated songwriters Michael Dulaney and Michael Jay, has generated commercial momentum, including a No. 1 single on the Yangaroo/DMDS chart for “Moon on Fire.”
Another track, “Remember in November,” earned Best of Canada Music Video honours at the 2026 California Music Video Awards.
Music career intersects with mental health advocacy
Beyond his recording and touring career, Mullane has become increasingly known for his work in mental health advocacy. A university psychology graduate, he has partnered for more than a decade with organizations including the Canadian Mental Health Association and the U.S.-based Campaign to Change Direction.
Industry observers say that combination of professional success, academic background and personal experience gives Mullane unusual credibility in discussions surrounding mental health in entertainment sectors.
“Mullane is available to media as a credible and compelling expert voice on the study’s findings,” the release stated. “He brings to the conversation something rare: the lived experience of a working Canadian artist, the academic grounding of a university degree in psychology, and a decade of active partnership with mental health organisations.”
That advocacy work intensified following the release of his single “Born Beautiful,” an anti-suicide and self-empowerment themed song whose music video received four U.S. awards between 2016 and 2017, including recognition at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards and the Music California Video Awards.
The project also received commercial radio airplay and helped establish relationships with mental health organizations that Mullane continues to support.
Personal experiences shaped artist’s outlook
Mullane’s connection to the issue is rooted in personal hardship as much as professional experience.
According to the release, the singer-songwriter lost both parents at a young age and later battled a severe case of tinnitus that threatened to derail his music career. He completed a psychology degree and at one stage considered pursuing law school before ultimately returning to music.
Supporters say those experiences have informed both his songwriting and his approach to advocacy.
“He is not an observer of this crisis – he is someone who has navigated it, written about it, and has been a strong advocate around bringing it into the open,” the release noted.
The broader “Soundcheck” study has prompted calls for structural changes across the Canadian music business, including greater mental health support from record labels, talent agencies and industry associations. Advocates argue that while conversations surrounding wellness have become more common in recent years, the study demonstrates that significant gaps remain in support systems for artists and music workers.
Industry facing calls for systemic change
Mental health challenges in the music sector have increasingly become part of a wider conversation within Canada’s cultural industries, where unstable income, touring demands, performance pressure and public scrutiny can contribute to burnout and emotional strain.
The “Soundcheck” findings add statistical weight to concerns long raised by performers and advocacy groups, particularly as independent artists continue navigating an industry transformed by streaming economics and post-pandemic touring realities.
For Mullane, the study represents more than a collection of data points.
“For him, the Soundcheck findings are not statistics,” the release stated. “They are the backdrop against which he has been making music for years.”
As industry organizations consider next steps, advocates say artists willing to publicly discuss their experiences may play a key role in moving the conversation beyond the music business and into broader public awareness.
The release concluded that “The Soundcheck study calls for systemic change – for labels, agents, and industry bodies to take seriously what the numbers are now impossible to ignore.”