CMA Gifts $3 Million for New Belmont Mental Health Program

Belmont Vision Multimedia, Zach Watkins

With mental health concerns on the rise, Belmont is launching a new program called the Center for Mental Health in Entertainment. 

Belmont announced the initiative on Nov. 3, which will be funded by a $3 million dollar gift from the Country Music Association. 

The Center will be based at the Curb College on Music Row. It will feature education programs, community building resources, and research by faculty and students. 

These education programs will include workshops and support groups for current professionals, integration of entertainment mental health studies into existing courses, and “specializations in entertainment mental health at the master's and Ph.D. levels in health sciences,” said Julia Copeland, Belmont’s director of public relations. 

Several Belmont music students are excited for this new initiative. 

“Having good mental health helps you create a product that you're happy with and stay in the industry longer,” said senior Hayden Schroeder. 

A few organizations already exist to address mental health in the entertainment industry, such as Entertainment Health Services. Elizabeth Porter, its president, understands the need for mental health programs for entertainers and musicians. 

“I saw a lot of musicians who were falling through the cracks or just struggling with their mental health and their passion for their career started slipping away,” Porter said. 

Porter also said that since musicians have the ability to influence people’s opinions and impact culture, it’s essential to make sure their impact is healthy. 

Belmont’s overall goal is to prepare students for stability and confidence in their careers and to “lead a global mental health revolution in entertainment,” said Copeland. 

As part of that goal, Debbie Carroll will join the Center as the CMA Endowed Chair and Executive Director, starting Nov. 17. Carroll has previously spent her career supporting mental health in entertainment, including spending 20 years as vice president of health and human services at MusiCares. She expressed her excitement in a LinkedIn post. 

“It’s a tremendous honor. I couldn’t be more excited to help lead and advance the vital work of raising awareness, reducing stigma, and creating lasting change for mental health within the entertainment community,” said Carroll. 

The center is just beginning, and it will take time for all of its ideas to reach fruition. Students should stay tuned for everything that’s planned.  

This article was written by Olivia Abernathy.