Our mission

To improve the mental wellness of musical creators and music industry personnel, to educate our community about available resources and treatment options, and to reduce held stigmas that prevent getting mental health treatment.

Our story

Mr. Rogers once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me: ‘Look for the helpers.’”

Upbeat GNV was born in 2020 of a desire to be one of the helpers, the effort of a pair of Gainesville-born musicians who had previously worked together in Gainesville’s DIY punk scene as teenagers and later as UF students, where they formed the funk/soul project The Savants of Soul.

Over the next 5 years, Upbeat GNV went from being a loose coalition of local musicians and practitioners banding together to offer support groups to musicians to a fully-fledged 501(3)c nonprofit that offers multiple programs that support musicians’ mental health, like our best-in-class Affordable Therapy Resource Guide, Upbeat Unwind meet ups, the Sober Buddy Program, and the flagship Upbeat GNV Musicians Therapy Scholarship.

That said, Upbeat GNV is still entirely volunteer run by broke musicians and college students. We’re funded by donations and the ability to run our programs depends on donations from people just like yourself.

Why are musicians in need of extra attention?

Research suggests that music industry workers and musical creators are suffering mental illness at a higher-than-average rate. Studies suggest up to 73 percent of musical creators suffer depression and anxiety directly related to their music career on a weekly basis and suffer suicidal ideation up to four times as much as the general population.

In short, there is a mental health crisis within our music industry. Not just that, but musicians often hold stigmas against seeking treatment. Some even believe remaining in a state of mental illness preferable, as it is thought to be the engine for their creative output.

We’re here to fight the problem on two fronts: First, we try to get face-to-face with our community, learn about the individuals behind the music, and provide them with real support and real treatment options with affordability in mind.

Second, we work to partner with trusted providers in our community to provide discounted and free therapy to musicians, especially those who are struggling to afford health insurance.

Our team

  • John Gray Shermyen

    GENERAL DIRECTOR

  • Alex Klausner

    FOUNDING DIRECTOR

  • Casey Wooster

    COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

  • Max Bleiweis

    PROGRAM DIRECTOR

  • Danielle Dichoso

    OPERATIONS DIRECTOR