HALIFAX, CA (CelebrityAccess) – As part of its 30th anniversary in Halifax, the East Coast Music Awards: Festival & Conference will be shining a spotlight on mental health and wellness.
During the five-day event, ECMA will offer a Health & Wellness Centre, workshops on mental wellness support strategies, and featured talks that speak to living with mental illness as a musician.
“Addressing the proliferation of mental illness in our music industry is long overdue,” says Andy McLean, ECMA Executive Director. “It’s important for us to not only talk about mental health issues in our industry but also to provide support and encourage our artists to participate in the Health & Wellness Centre at this year’s ECMAs.”
Curated by Moksha Yoga Halifax, the Health & Wellness Centre will offer an on-site facility during the festival where artists, delegates, staff, volunteers, and sponsors can participate in yoga classes and guided meditation sessions, make appointments with a Registered Massage Therapist or licensed Acupuncturist, and take advantage of “Ask A Yoga Teacher” sessions.
Throughout the week, the Mental Wellness Support Strategies workshop will both provide volunteers and staff practical skills with which to identify a mental health crisis on the ground, and also to collect information on the scope of mental illness in the East Coast music industry through a survey (available HERE).
Rounding out the week, the ECMA Cup – a charity hockey game that will feature East Coast artists, industry professionals, and ex-NHL players. All proceeds from the game will be donated to the Unison Benevolent Fund.
The 2018 East Coast Music Awards: Festival & Conference takes place from May 2-6, 2018 in Halifax, NS.
