Mental health has been seen by many as a touchy subject. While some people understandably choose to keep it private, others feel great pride in openly discussing their struggles in an attempt to normalize it and help others. Getting this discussion going is incredibly important, as you never really know who needs to hear about it. Many don’t know what they’re dealing with, plenty feel alone, and some just need reassurance that things will get better. In more recent years, the amount of celebrities opening up about their illnesses has been pleasantly eye-opening. For artists like Demi Lovato, using her platform to speak out on her diagnosis has made her even more likable to people around the world. Having such a big audience can be a lot of pressure, but using your voice to spread awareness is admirable.
Other modern day celebrities that haven’t been shy about their personal issues include Selena Gomez, Sia, Halsey, and Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy. From depression, bipolar disorder, to social anxiety, it is clear that mental health issues do not discriminate and can come in all forms.
5 Seconds of Summer’s Michael Clifford briefly opened up during a performance last year about his decision to see a therapist. He never mentioned what specifically he was dealing with, but his few words were received positively by fans. He made many feel comfortable with the idea of receiving help for whatever they are going through. Sometimes taking that step and admitting you need guidance can be the toughest part, so for him to share this with thousands is appreciated by those that have been affected by mental illness.
Another musician that Clifford has been numerously said to be the doppelgänger of, Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance), has also made mention of his struggles. His constant state of unhappiness drove him to self-medicating with alcohol. The notion of possibly leaving his daughter fatherless terrified him. He came to the realization that the band needed to break up or else he would implode. Choosing himself and his family was the obvious way to go. Leaving the band behind would be hard, but it would be worth it.
While MCR had to completely come to an end, other bands have taken breaks to allow for certain members to take much needed time off and get themselves together. In the case of Modern Baseball, frontman Brendan Lukens was on a downward spiral that almost ended in suicide. His best friend and fellow band member Jake Ewald contacted Brendan’s family. The result was sitting down with Brendan to discuss entering a treatment center. After much resistance, he ended up seeking help. The decision required the group cancel several big tour dates, but it was an easy choice. Since then, Brendan has stopped self-harming and has been living a sober lifestyle. The group released a new album, Holy Ghost, which contains a number of tracks which document Brendan’s journey. Similarly, Dan Lambton of the band Real Friends released a statement just the other day that the group would be postponing their upcoming Europe/U.K. tour so that he could focus on bettering himself. There was an outpouring of love and respect from their fanbase to show they understood and respected this decision, as his well-being should be the top concern.
It’s nice to have songs out there that bring attention to these very real problems all sorts of people face in their daily lives. It’s another thing to have the person behind the music share why they wrote it and what it means to them personally. Lyrics are meant to be interpreted in all different ways which is unique to each listener. It’s how they can connect people from all walks of life and show them they aren’t going through their battle by themselves, whatever that battle may be.
Artists are constantly expressing how thankful they are to hear from fans how their music has changed their lives. From handwritten letters, to song lyric tattoos, it's evident there's been a great impact on these fan communities because their idols have shared their stories and how they got to a better mental state after reaching out.
