Global Song Contest “The Road To Nashville” Provides a Free Solution to Combat the Mental Health Pandemic
Country Music Community Joins the Fight to Raise Access and Awareness of Mental Health Services
With the rise in issues related to mental health and the visibility of the carnage that results when mental illness goes unchecked leading news headlines globally via mass shootings, depression, and suicide, The Road to Nashville: Liverpool International Song Contest ensures that the creative community isn’t left behind by providing complimentary access to mental health professionals for anyone that applies to the competition.
Launched in May via a partnership between the mayors and city councils of the cities of Nashville, TN and Liverpool, UK, the competition has already seen over 732 applicants opt in for mental health services, resulting in a rate of 16% of all submissions selecting to access these tools and professionals at no charge. Impacting beyond borders, language and cultural barriers, this contest founded by The Unity of Faiths Foundation (TUFF) has received 4,862 songs from 4,385 artists representing creators across 23 countries. The TUFF team is currently engaging mental health services for 546 contestants and is on boarding 186 with access to providers that best suits their needs.
Photo Credit: PLA Media
“Mental illness is the new pandemic,” says Dr. Shamender Talwar, Co-Founder of TUFF. “When Covid-19 spread around the globe, we saw connection and community get erased from our lives overnight as we needed to shelter in place to curb transmission rates. What we missed when our day-to-day interactions so drastically changed were the long term impacts of that shift. Mental health practices and the equitable access to those therapies are imperative if we want to make a real swing back to kindness, safety and security. We are so grateful to be in a position to support these musicians and songwriters through the help of incredible partners. Fortunately, with the additional resources, we are able to extend our deadline to hopefully save more lives. And, we cannot thank the artists that have stepped up to share their own stories and struggles.”
The Road to Nashville has been extended and is now taking submissions through August 31 at roadtonashville.us. The top ten finalists will perform live before judges in Nashville at the Legendary EXIT/IN on John Lennon’s birthday Oct. 9, 2022.
Headliners and household names in the country music community have weighed in on the importance of TUFF (The Unity of Faith Foundation) and their mental health initiative for The Road to Nashville – Liverpool International Song Contest. This particular community has most recently experienced the heartbreaking impact of mental illness with the tragic deaths of Naomi Judd and Tom T. Hall.
“The subject of mental illness is front and center globally. There is nothing explainable about fame and being the center of attention. Whether it be an actor, musician or politician; just being the center of attention does not offer protection from mental illness. In fact, fame can perhaps do just the opposite, exposing vulnerability like a trap. You can’t let everyone in and can’t let yourself out. You are surrounded and yet alone. I have a few good friends who accept me for who I am not just what I do. It makes a huge difference. Humanity must address mental illness with an open heart and mind.” – Gary Morris
In addition to his endorsement, Gary has provided a generous donation to TUFF to support their efforts.
“I didn’t really understand the challenges that come with mental health issues until Covid arrived and I found myself dealing with depression and anxiety. It’s really important that we keep talking about how stress affects so many of us and how necessary it is to provide everyone with people to talk to and places to go for help.” – Michelle Wright
“Life can certainly be grand standing on its peaks, but it also has its challenges and valleys along the way for everyone, no matter who you are or what you do. No one is excluded. It’s really about the support we all need and actually reaching out for it. Speaking up and talking about the lows can be hard and vulnerable but yet it is in these times that it can also be liberating when you see that we all will be effected in some way. Anything that helps lead us to a mental health conversation is a must in our world. I fully support it and see the beauty in this process. We all will be better for ourselves and for humanity as we know it by asking for help when needed. I think the Liverpool International Song Contest is spot on including mental health services for anyone needing it and it’s a great thing to see!” – Tim Rushlow, Formerly of Little Texas, currently in The Frontmen
“I am very excited about The Liverpool International Song Contest called ‘The Road To Nashville!’ It is truly amazing for two iconic music cities such as Liverpool and Nashville to be joining forces to discover some of the best new songwriting talent on the planet. What’s even more amazing about this unique partnership between Liverpool and Nashville is their additional mission to raise awareness for the need to acknowledge and address the oftentimes invisible scars and silent cries for help many people of all walks of life may be experiencing because of deep emotional hurt caused by untended, uncared for mental health issues. It seems very fitting for the song contest to be the vehicle that could bring a much needed discussion to the forefront of our minds and open our hearts to this very personal and sensitive conversation. After all, music is one of the greatest gifts of healing and love that God has given to us. I feel that far beyond the incredible amount of entertainment and fun that will definitely be had during the song competition, this international global music project promoting mental health, which has been organized by TUFF (The Unity of Faiths Foundation) could be very well be an answer to a prayer that the whole world has been needing.” – Deborah Allen
“During this particularly difficult time battling a pandemic, multiple shootings, and a war-torn Ukraine, the world is seemingly reeling in pain. Coincidentally, May was Mental Health Month made even more meaningful recently with the loss of our country colleague Naomi Judd due to complications of mental illness. John Lennon, too, lost his life at only forty, a victim of a shooter suffering with mental illness. This TUFF songwriting contest follows the ideals the Beatles wrote about and stood for; human dignity, unity, understanding, peace, and love. In honor of Naomi, whom I was lucky enough to work with and all those battling mental illness and depression; PLA is honored to partner with TUFF and make a contribution. I hope you’ll join us.” – Pam Lewis FRSA, President/CEO of PLA Media
The Road to Nashville is partnered with the following to present and support our 2022 contestants:
- Liverpool City Council
- Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County
- Visit Music City
- Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum
- Exit/In
- BMI
- SAE Institute
- The Cavern Club Liverpool
- Middle Tennessee State University
- BBC
- Country Music Association
- Porter’s Call
About Liverpool International Song Contest
Last year, Liverpool City Council played a role in supporting the International Song for Kindness which was created by the charity TUFF (The Unity of Faiths Foundation) to support their wider goals of empowering young people and promoting acceptance, equality and respect for other cultures.
The Liverpool International Song Contest is a vehicle used to tackle discrimination and the stigma of mental health, providing support for those most in need and developing a bespoke mental health service infrastructure specifically tailored toward those in the creative sector.
Participants in the 2020/21 Liverpool International Song Contest were invited to attend one of 23 workshops across the Liverpool City region, delivered by TUFFs Music division and led by TUFFs co-founders Anna Prior and Dr. Shamender Talwar FRSA (renowned social psychologist) and Liverpool based producer Daniel Xander BSc MA (TUFFs Head of Music). These engaging workshops provided education in music, production and human values, and provided education on mental health and one to one counselling with mental health practitioners.
In addition to the thousands who attended the in-person workshops, TUFF also provided an online version of the syllabus for those unable to attend through medical reasons, Covid-19 and/or mental health disorders such as social anxiety and depression. This online digital format provided people with the same opportunities and one to one counselling, delivered in a way that best suited their needs.
The connection with Liverpool came about because TUFF developed the global #KIND20 campaign as a way to demonstrate and promote social integration, which reached a staggering 6.5 million people from around the world. After conversations with The Cavern and other organizations in Liverpool, they came up with the idea of an International Song Contest to celebrate what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday. Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO City of Music, was involved on behalf of the city and attended the final event at The Cavern in October 2021. The songs were judged by an impressive panel of industry figures (including Adele’s agent and respected musician/songwriter Andrew Roachford MBE who had a number of hits with his band Roachford) who all attended the event in Liverpool. Entries were received from 28 countries in the inaugural contest.
About TUFF — The Co-Organizer
The Unity of Faiths Foundation (TUFF) is a British secular charitable organization working in four continents. They bridge community sectors, organizations and government by rebuilding social integration and global community cohesion. TUFF also empowers youth through participation in sports, music and science. Teaching education in human values, acceptance of integration, individual liberty, gender equality, understanding environment, respect for other cultures, the rule of law and democracy. They have been established since 2011 and have the support and acknowledgments of many dignitaries like H.H Pope Francis, H.M the Queen, President Barack Obama to name a few. The ultimate goal is to share kindness and facilitate the integration and empowerment of those people who do not have a voice, due to numerous challenges and obstacles they face in their daily lives.
To make learn more or make a donation to TUFF, visit: tuff.earth.
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