On July 20th, 2017, the world seemed to stop turning. The headlines told us that Linkin Park vocalist, Chester Bennington died by hanging.
When a beloved famous figure passes on, it's always going to be sad, heart wrenching news, but with time, we can move on. When it's old age, or even a freak accident, we can find a way to make peace with the circumstances. Chester Bennington's death is not something that we can simply move on. It wasn't just a case of death, or an unfortunate suicide; it was a display of ongoing suffering.
Until the past decade, depression was something people tended to regard as people being overly sensitive, or even ungrateful. Self-harm and drug abuse used to be a mark of shame and something to hide from the world. Pain immense enough to lead to a noose is not something to hide. Even though it hurts, and makes us confront what we are afraid of, it's a conversation we need to continue. It is not just a matter of us staying alive, but to ease the pain and make our days better.
Please, crush stereotypes of depression and mental health across the board. No person's mental state of being is identical. There is no distinguishing feature or equation to follow. Nor does mental health discriminate. Those who appear to be happy, or seem to have everything, may be suffering more than you can imagine.
Avoid the cliches, especially, "You don't look like you have depression," or "You should try yoga." It may feel like the right thing to say, or something to say when searching for an appropriate response, but you may be making the person feel worse. Comments such as these can make them feel as though their entire being and emotional world is incorrect. If something as simple as yoga was the cure, why are we still like this?
If someone is trusting you with the darkest part of themselves and opening up, I beg you, let them. Sometimes just having someone there to listen and know how they feel can bring a world of relief.
This is why music is so central. It's a creative expression to show how you feel and when there are millions singing the same words, the unity is warm. This is another reason why Chester's situation is so heartbreaking. He's touched countless people through his sound, including their newest album "One More Light."
The scope of the music scene paid their respects to Chester including Machine Gun Kelly, Gerard Way, Alternative Press and many, many more. Knowing that the tragedy is being addressed in a positive way brings light to the great misfortune.
His legacy will be remembered. Not just as a platinum-selling artist, but as a father, friend, and human being. Through him, we can learn to understand our minds on a greater spectrum, and find healing through it all.
Rest easy, Chester Bennington.
If you need help, don't hesitate. Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.
