Perspectives
Articles, commentary and research-based writing by Catherine Harrison on leadership, mental health and the human side of work.
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I've Become the Data
I’ve spent the past five years studying what happens when people can’t speak up in the music industry. I’ve documented the fear, the burnout, the silence.…
Canadian employers are winning the return-to-office battle. They're losing something more important.
Canadian employers are winning the return-to-office…
Mental Health in the Music Industry: Dissonance, Belonging, and Change
In music, dissonance is a clash of notes that creates tension until it’s resolved. In the music industry, the same happens with people: the myths of “easy…
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Nobody Taught Them to Lead
The Canadian music industry doesn’t have a talent problem. It has a pipeline problem.
Bubble Thinking Is a Leadership Risk—Not Just a Market Problem
Howard Marks’ 2025 AI and financial markets memo Is It a Bubble? isn’t about mental health or leadership. That’s precisely why it’s useful.
Love and Stigma: Lessons from Gilbert’s New Memoir
I am not a book reviewer and generally don’t weigh in on +/- of…
Workplace Mental Health: Global Trends, Canada’s Reality, Music’s Alarm
Global research shows high burnout and depression in workplaces across industries. Canadian data confirms the same pressures here at home.
The Enshittification of Streaming: What Happened to Music’s Digital Utopian Promise?
At its core, music has always been about connection—the emotional spark between artist and listener.
Tools or Proxies? The Risk of Over-reliance on AI
Over dinner the other night, a friend and I were talking tech. Every year, we review what tools we’re using, what’s working, what’s not. It led to a chat…
The Hoax and Hubris of Happiness
In today’s culture, happiness is a commodity—measured, pursued, and often performed. Social media platforms glow with curated moments, self-help books…
Are We Diagnosing Humanity Out of Human Experience?
Mental health awareness has surged in recent years, bringing valuable attention to conditions like ADHD, depression, and anxiety. However, this heightened…
Chasing Balance: How the Brain’s Opposing Forces Shape Addiction
I recently read the book Never Enough by neuroscientist Judith…
Mental Health Apps: Helpful or Harmful? It's complicated.
Choosing the right mental health app can be challenging. Currently, there is a lack of guidance on choosing wisely.
Navigating the Freelance Journey: Prioritizing Mental Health in Self-Employment
Prioritizing mental health in freelancing and self-employment.
Performance Pressure: Mental Health Parallels in Music and Pro Sports
Mental health parallels between professional sports and music
Talking about Substance Use: Why Language Matters
As a mental health strategist in the workplace, my primary mission is widespread mental health literacy – improving language, critical thinking,…
Tour Crew Mental Health: There's a Big Problem, So Let's Address It
Working in the music industry can be exhilarating, fulfilling, and unforgettable. It can also be debilitating, heartbreaking, stressful, and lonely.
Musicians and Our Mental Health
Why musicians can be particularly susceptible to mental health challenges, and practical ways to care for yourself.
Selling You(r Stuff)
Do you ever feel uncomfortable asking people to buy your book or product or service?I’ve had this experience many times, first with my music and paintings, then with the release of my book, workshops and online courses. Labors of love. Outputs of my creative expression.
Blue Sash and Bucket Hat
What parts of ourselves do we keep hidden from others? From ourselves? So many of us keep challenges and experience, real human and common experiences, hidden from the world because of shame and stigma.
New Year, New You? Reinventing Reinvention
We’ve all heard stories of people who have reinvented themselves – done a radical overhaul and sold everything, shaved the head, quit the job, moved across…
Equinox Paradox: The Social Media Balance
What if what you want most requires you to do what you want…
Covid's Evil Twin: The Echo Pandemic
Over the last few days, while chatting with two mental health care professionals, one here in Canada, and one in the U.S., both have alluded to what is…
Death by Virtual Meeting
They sucked up our time, our energy, and our resources. We spent most of our days in meetings, going from one to another. We had no “good meeting protocols”…
C-19 Productivity Hack: Do less with more
In the past 2 weeks, we’ve been inundated with offerings on how to live in the new Covid-19 world. There is immeasurable, amazing, rich content about how to…
