Artists and those working in the music industry are three times more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, according to a new study.

A research project entitled Can Music Make You Sick? found that some 71 per cent of musicians experience anxiety disorder, whereas 69 per cent felt that they were prone to depression.

The study, which has been described as the largest survey of its kind ever undertaken in the UK, was carried out by charity Help Musicians UK in collaboration with Westminster University.

For those working in the music industry, the report suggests that “the difficulty of sustaining a living, anti-social working hours, exhaustion, and the inability to plan their time/future,” were key intensifiers of depression and anxiety-related symptoms.

The report also argued that female musicians were increasingly facing “issues related to the problems of being a woman in the industry—from balancing work and family commitments, to sexist attitudes and even sexual harassment.”

Researchers have concluded that the most significant thing to come from the Can Music Make You Sick? Study is recognition that the pressures of the unpredictable industry are taking their toll on musicians and other creatives.

On a more positive note, however, the study also suggested that the act of making music itself was highly “therapeutic” and beneficial for those struggling with mental health concerns.