Music can give words to feelings we don’t know how to articulate. It’s a way of expressing emotions and finding solace and comfort when facing mental health issues. Mental health is a subject matter that has been often overlooked in the past, but today more and more artists are using their music to shed light on the topic, both in lyrical content and in their own personal stories.
It’s no secret that musicians and music industry professionals face higher rates of mental health issues. From symptoms of anxiety and depression to unhelpful coping mechanisms such as drugs and alcohol, individuals in the music business are often at greater risk for mental illness. By using their power and influence, musicians such as Lady Gaga, Post Malone, Billie Eilish, and Halsey have spoken out about their struggles with mental health. This vulnerability has opened up conversations about mental health and the importance of talking about it with loved ones, friends, and professionals like therapists and psychiatrists.
Music that focuses on mental health issues provides a way for listeners to understand and relate to emotionally charged topics. Darker themes such as dealing with depression, thoughts of suicide, and anxiety can be easier to communicate through hyperbolic metaphors within lyrical content. Listening to music encourages people to think deeply about topics and reflect on their own experiences in a safe space.
For example, Halsey’s latest single “Graveyard” is a direct ode to the singer’s own experience with manic depression. In a quote from Vogue magazine, Halsey discusses how the song speaks directly to her personal struggles with her mental health, saying “I don’t know that I thought about this in terms of people having a terminated connection to people, and the thing that it relates to in my own life is a terminated connection to myself.” By exposing her inner feelings in a vulnerable and tangible way, Halsey is able to create a song that is undeniably connected to her own mental health.
With new and growing numbers of musicians speaking out about their mental health, it can be a sign for everyone else to recognize the importance of not shying away from uncomfortable topics. Mental health affects us all and it’s essential to talk about our struggles in order to support each other in times of need. Music provides a way to bring light to this issue in a way that is both understandable and captivating. Whether through expressing emotional pain or connecting with a sense of understanding, music speaks about mental health in a way that can be appreciated and empathized with.