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THE UNISON FUND

SUPPORTS CANADA’S MENTAL HEALTH

AWARENESS WEEK

 

THE SLAIGHT FAMILY FOUNDATION LEGACY PROGRAM:

THE IMPORTANCE & THE IMPACT ON CANADA’S MUSIC COMMUNITY

 

SPEAK OUT, REACH OUT: WWW.UNISONFUND.CA



TORONTO, ON / MONTRÉAL, QC – May 7, 2024 –  As Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off, The Unison Fund, Canada’s music industry charity dedicated to providing counselling and emergency financial support services to the Canadian music community, underscores the importance of joining the conversation on mental health. In recognition of this critical issue, Unison is proud to highlight its Slaight Family Foundation Legacy Program, and encourage individuals within the music community to speak out and reach out during times of need.

 

Mental health conditions affect individuals of all ages, and the music industry is no exception. According to research, loneliness and social isolation are significant risk factors for mental health issues in later life, with approximately 14% of adults aged 60 and over living with a mental disorder (World Health Organization, 2023). In response to these challenges, the Slaight Family Foundation Legacy Program was established to provide support to veterans of the Canadian music community and those coping with unexpected or chronic illnesses.

"Over the past year since the introduction of the Slaight Family Foundation Legacy Program, several things have been made clear about the challenges older members of Canada’s music industry face. Many applicants who should be enjoying retirement are unable to retire, due to their lack of benefits and steady income. Most have no funds to socialize and suffer from severe isolation and loneliness. Food insecurity is high and in an increasingly tech-based world, many applicants aren’t computer-proficient enough to find and apply for resources. This program not only supports applicants with resources, it also provides a critical human connection."


– Jennifer Hardy, Director of Programs & Services, The Unison Fund

The Legacy Program offers a lifeline to individuals who are finding it challenging to maintain an adequate standard of living, require constant or emergent medical intervention, or are struggling with mental health issues. Eligible applicants must have contributed to Canada’s music community for a minimum of 10 years, be over the age of 60, and/or be coping with unexpected or chronic illness.

HOW TO HELP? SPEAK OUT, REACH OUT!

 

  • Share information about The Slaight Family Foundation Legacy Program with your networks;


  • Utilize the social graphics provided in our toolkit or record and share a brief video liner to raise awareness about the program;



  • Consider making a donation to The Unison Fund to support their efforts in providing assistance and care to musicians facing mental health challenges or financial hardships.



In September 2022, the Slaight Family Foundation made a generous commitment of $10M over five years to The Unison Fund. This significant donation has enabled Unison to create the Slaight Family Foundation Legacy Program, to financially support elderly in the music community and those facing long-term medical challenges and will continue to do so thanks to the remaining contribution of $2M per year until 2027.

"We are immensely grateful to Gary Slaight and The Slaight Family Foundation for their unwavering support of Unison and the music community at large. The generous commitment of industry partners like Slaight allows us to not only address the current needs of music professionals but also adapt to and navigate the evolving challenges our industry faces. As Unison continues to grow and develop, identifying and collaborating with partners to meet the needs of our community remains a vital focus for Unison."


- Amanda Power, Executive Director, The Unison Fund

Despite the ongoing support from generous donors like the Slaight Family Foundation, the need for emergency financial support and mental health care services within the music community continues to grow. The Unison Fund relies on the generosity of donors to sustain its impactful work and provide vital assistance to individuals in need.

 

The Unison Fund would like to thank Kim Stockwood and Molly Johnson as well as our partner radio stations across Canada for their generosity of support”.  

 

Join The Unison Fund in supporting Mental Health Awareness Week and advocating for the well-being of Canada’s music community. Together, we can ensure that no one in the industry faces mental health challenges alone.

 

KEY NUMBERS:

  • 58% of people part of the Legacy Program are over the age of 60 years old;

  • 95% of people under 60 years old part of the Legacy Program were dealing with Cancer;

  • Over 500 people have used Unison’s mental health services for counselling or lifesaving risk intervention since 2022

  • $2M per year for the next two years remain as part of the Slaight Family Foundation donation of $10M over five years.

 

For more information on The Unison Fund, and its support programs like The Slaight Family Foundation Legacy and Unison’s Grocery Gift Card Support or on how to get involved,

please visit www.unisonfund.ca



The Unison Fund, Canada's music industry charity, provides counselling and emergency financial support services to the Canadian music community in times of hardship. For over a decade, Unison has been committed to helping producers, engineers, singers/songwriters, musicians, production crews, and thousands more through our financial support and counselling and health solutions programs. For more information or to donate, please visit: www.unisonfund.ca. Every donation counts. Every donation helps. Let's keep Canadian music and entertainment ALIVE.

 

-30-



 

Source: Unison Fund 

 

For more information on The Unison Fund, please contact:


PHILIP VANDEN BRANDE | Vice President, Partner & Executive Publicist, annexe

phil@annexe.media | +1 438 402 7391 | www.annexe.media

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