mental health
Page: 2
Flavor Flav is celebrating an important milestone while helping others. The Public Enemy musician took to social media on Oct. 10, which is also World Mental Health Day, to announce that next week marks “4 years sober from alcohol.” To help others struggling with mental health, Flav noted that he reached out to AI therapy […]
Chhappell Roan recently canceled two shows just one day before they were due to take place, saying that she felt overwhelmed and needed to take a break. She’s not alone — over the past few years, artists including Adele, Rihanna and The Rolling Stones have all done something similar, and likely at an eye-watering cost for all involved.
People will always get sick, but the kind of health issues artists state are often more complex. While it seems that labels and management companies have put an increasing amount of investment into mental health programs over the last few years, is there anything more that could help cancellations like these to be prevented?
Trending on Billboard
One area of the business slow to change is allowing adequate recovery time on tour for emerging artists. Costs are high and labels want to get the maximum amount of exposure for new artists, but scheduling proper breaks is so important when it comes to preventing illness, overwhelm and vocal issues. A quick glance at Chappell Roan’s tour dates shows her playing in three different cities on three consecutive nights. Combine this approach with a meteoric rise in profile and you’ll have an exhausted, overwhelmed artist in no time.
It is in this state that pre-existing health issues can raise their head. Exhaustion and stress will do that to any of us. No amount of mental health support can compensate for an over-tired artist who can’t cope. But also, for artists, exhaustion and stress impact their live performance in ways that executives often forget. An artist experiencing visceral symptoms of overwhelm, as Chappell stated, will find it incredibly hard to perform. She even said: “I want to be present when I perform and give the best shows possible,” suggesting that her current state is preventing her from doing that.
For singers, their body is their instrument, and signs of tiredness, illness or stress will show in their voice. Tension in the body can result in feelings of tightness, vocal fatigue and an inability to reach high notes. Sharing their music onstage with fans is incredibly meaningful to artists, so they want to be fit and strong enough to do the material justice. The world of social media is brutal — any significant vocal issues or performance mistakes will likely end up being shared online, inviting a wealth of stress-inducing (and often unfair) criticism. No artist wants to go onstage worrying that their voice might give out at any point, so they need to be properly supported to prevent this from happening. Additionally, increased stress can raise performance anxiety levels to unmanageable states, even for those who haven’t suffered from it before.
How can things change? Firstly, executives need to work with artists to find out what a reasonable tour workload is for them, remembering that everyone is different. Be mindful that promo is tiring for the voice, and the body doesn’t process a TV or radio appearance as a “day off” from performance, no matter how tempting it is to squeeze an opportunity into a scheduling gap. Travel days are also exhausting.
Many major artists further along in their careers now demand recovery to be built into their tour schedules, but it’s harder for younger acts to feel they can ask for this. It can also be tough for teams to facilitate — it’s well-documented how long it takes for touring to become profitable, especially when taking into account the rising costs faced by the industry post-pandemic. However, it’s worth taking a long-term view. As we mentioned earlier, cancellations are also expensive and risk harming the important dynamic of trust between artist and fan.
Secondly, invest in some proper performance psychology training for artists. Classical musicians know the importance of this — all major conservatories around the world now educate their students on how to perform under pressure, using virtual reality and mental skills training techniques, among others, to help musicians cope with the challenges of a high-level performance career.
Researchers have suggested that performing live can be compared biologically to sky-diving, in terms of the levels of stress in the body. Without proper management, recovery and support, cortisol levels can stay heightened, contributing to health issues in the long term. This is why management of performance anxiety is vital. All artists need a pre- and post-performance routine to help the body, mind and voice prepare for, and recover from, performance. You’ve probably heard of them from the world of sport, where they’re commonplace for athletes. Classical musicians use them too, but pop is slow to catch on — and to its detriment.
Finally, a routine performance health check-in with artists should be mandatory. These look at vocal health, performance psychology, hearing health, musculoskeletal issues and general mental health. Research suggests that musicians are slow to seek help for health issues, leaving problems until they become chronic, at which point many are harder to deal with and can even be career-ending. These early, cheap interventions can prevent problems from escalating. A standardized offer across the industry for all artists to access support would make a huge difference in reducing performance health-related cancellations long-term.
We cover all of this and more in the upcoming international edition of our health-focused career guide for artists (and those who work with them), Sound Advice, which aims to help prevent health and performance issues before they escalate, through a combination of research, interviews, professional advice and resources.
There’s been so much discussion and headway made on the health issues faced by artists in recent years. However, as Chappell Roan’s example and many others show, there are big gaps in care and provision that need to be addressed if the industry wants to prevent last-minute cancellations and move towards a more sustainable (not to mention ethical) future.
Rhian Jones is a respected freelance journalist who specializes in the business of music. She writes for The Guardian, Music Business Worldwide and Hits, amongst others.
Lucy Heyman runs a performance health and psychology consultancy, Elevate, where she works with industry organizations, advising artists and those that work with them on how to optimize performance. She has an MSc in Performance Science from the Royal College of Music and has published original research on the health and well-being experiences of artists in popular music.
HipHopWired Featured Video
DaBaby has announced a new mental health platform aimed at helping young people struggling with the challenges of the day. DaBaby launched DaBaby Cares in honor of his brother, who lost his life to suicide during National Suicide Prevention Month.
DaBaby, real name Jonathan Kirk, announced the launch of DaBaby Cares this past Wednesday (September 25) along with a toolkit and other resources aimed at helping young people with their mental health journey.
The North Carolina rapper shared his new platform’s mission statement, which can be read in full below:
On November 3rd, 2020 my brother Glenn Johnson committed suicide, leaving behind 3 beautiful daughters and an amazing son. I believe that if more of the correct resources were in place to support mental health awareness and self-love the world would see far less of these tragedies. In honor of my brother’s untimely passing I have become devoted to utilizing my platform and resources to provide the tools needed to combat mental health issues. Breaking the long going cycle of mental illness in minority communities & normalizing the conversation around mental health. Join me in my journey to save lives one step at a time, while preventing families around the world from enduring the tragic pain of losing a loved one.
Partnering with the Mental Health America of Central Carolinas organization, the platform has published a Youth Mental Health 101 resource available for download. DaBaby also announced the launch of the Glenn Johnson for Mental Health initiative which will run through his larger platform addressing the mental health needs of all.
To learn more, click here.
—
Photo: Getty
Chappell Roan says she’s been diagnosed with severe depression, but she hasn’t been feeling sad.
The “Good Luck, Babe!” singer-songwriter, just named best new artist at the MTV VMAs, tells The Guardian she’s “in therapy twice a week” while on the road for her Midwest Princess Tour. The trek currently has her in London (Sept. 21), with a stop in Berlin next (Sept. 23) before she returns to the U.S. for a handful of concerts, beginning with the All Things Go Festival in New York City on Sept. 28.
“I went to a psychiatrist last week because I was like, I don’t know what’s going on,” Roan shared with the publication for a profile released on Saturday.
“She diagnosed me with severe depression — which I didn’t think I had because I’m not actually sad,” she said. “But I have every symptom of someone who’s severely depressed.”
Roan’s symptoms have included brain frog, forgetfulness, poor focus and “a very lackluster viewpoint.”
“I think it’s because my whole life has changed,” she said of her current symptoms. “Everything that I really love to do now comes with baggage. If I want to go thrifting, I have to book security and prepare myself that this is not going to be normal. Going to the park, pilates, yoga — how do I do this in a safe way where I’m not going to be stalked or harassed?”
Later in the article, she said that “every time I walk through my front door, it just comes out of me … I can’t even help it, I just start sobbing and either being so angry at myself for choosing this path, or grieving how the curiosity and pure wonder I had about the world is somewhat taken away from me.”
The upside of fame: the opportunity it brings. “I get to feel the energy of other people. It’s so cool to have shows so packed and have so much joy in the room,” she said.
Roan — whose debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and who has seen seven songs chart on the Hot 100 in just the past five months — isn’t alone in experiencing complex feelings about fame (“I was warned that it’s going to feel like going through puberty again,” she told The Guardian. “My body does feel different. It’s holding tension in a very different way: I have all these new emotions and I’m really confused”). She’s bonded with peers in the industry over the pressure that comes with such a sudden rise, meeting up with Sabrina Carpenter and texting Lorde for advice.
“We’re both going through something so f—ing hard,” said Roan of Carpenter in a recent Rolling Stone cover story, sharing that the “Espresso” hitmaker “feels like everything is flying, and she’s just barely hanging on.”
Roan has been open about how she’s feeling with fans, too. In August, she penned a statement on Instagram about setting boundaries with those engaging in “predatory behavior (disguised as ‘superfan’ behavior) that has become normalized because of the way women who are well-known have been treated in the past.”
“I embrace the success of the project, the love I feel, and the gratitude I have. What I do not accept are creepy people, being touched, and being followed,” she wrote.
The singer-songwriter, now 26, has also been candid about pre-fame mental health struggles. Roan was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder at age 22.
She described her childhood experience in an interview last year with the University of Southern California’s Daily Trojan: “Being bipolar, I was so depressed as a little kid and so angry. You just think you’re such a bad person, and don’t realize that you’re really sick and need help, and our parents don’t know how to deal with it. I think it’s like rewiring my brain to be like, ‘Actually, you’re a good person, and you’re creating a safe space and music for people to dance to.’”
In 2022, she posted on Instagram about her bipolar II disorder, telling fans “it’s pretty hard to keep it together” and balance work and fan commitments with her therapy schedule. She noted, “I don’t really talk about it much, but it affects me daily and is a pretty big part of my music.” In 2023, she wrote about it again on Instagram: “i am very fortunate and grateful to have my dream job,” she said, but added, “This job is very difficult for me to process and maintain a healthy life & mindset. I already have difficulty regulating my emotions because I have bipolar 2 disorder.”
Read Roan’s latest conversation with The Guardian here. Roan’s upcoming tour dates can be found on her official website.
Country-rock trio The Cadillac Three, known for their top 40 Billboard Country Airplay song “The South,” has canceled the remainder of their tour dates for 2024 as lead singer Jaren Johnston seeks treatment for mental health.
After initially canceling a number of shows earlier in the week, on Friday, Sept. 20, The Cadillac Three members Johnston, Kelby Ray and Neil Mason updated fans, writing on their official X page. “Friends, we want to be honest with you. Jaren has entered treatment for his mental health and well-being,” the statement read. “The last few years have been challenging on a number of levels. The right thing to do right now is to make space to focus on family, health and longevity.”
They added of their upcoming shows, “With this news, our remaining 2024 shows will be canceled,” and advised fans to contact their point of purchase for refunds for the concerts they had scheduled through the remainder of the year. “We love our fans and the community we’ve built together. Canceling concerts is not something we take lightly. We have no doubt we will ride down the road again. Until then, we appreciate your respect and support for Jaren and his family.”
Trending on Billboard
In addition to fronting The Cadillac Three, Johnston is known as a prolific songwriter, having contributed writing to hits by Tim McGraw (“Meanwhile Back at Mama’s”), Keith Urban (“You Gonna Fly” and Urban’s Eric Church collaboration “Raise ‘Em Up”), Tyler Hubbard (“5 Foot 9”) and Jake Owen (“Days of Gold,” “American Country Love Song”). Most recently, Johnston contributed the song “B—h on the Sauce (Just Drunk”) on Miranda Lambert’s new album Postcards From Texas.
Among the shows the band had slated for the remainder of the year were appearances at the upcoming Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival in Franklin, Tenn., as well as shows at Grizzly Rose in Denver and the iconic Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas.
In addition to making music with their own self-described “country fuzz” sound, members of the group are also business leaders, with Johnston and Mason having launched their War Buddha label in conjunction with Warner Records last year. The label’s first signee was Rhett Madison.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Hope In Harlem / Hope In Harlem
A community event in Harlem focused on wellness and mental health for young people will feature NBA stars such as Allan Houston and Olympians along with other notable figures.
Source: Hope In Harlem / Hope In Harlem
The organizing committee behind the Hope In Harlem Conference announced their lineup of guests for the event. The in-person gathering will take place at the First Corinthians Baptist Church this upcoming Saturday (September 14), and there will be some notable athletes that will be on the distinguished list of speakers. Former two-time NBA All-Star and New York Knicks legend Allan Houston will attend, along with Olympic Gold Medalist and world champion track star Natasha Hastings and former Miami Heat guard and NBA champion Derek Anderson.
The 2024 Hope In Harlem Conference’s theme is about youth addressing mental health and wellness through sports and other activities in the community. It begins at 10 AM with the invited speakers engaging in a series of panel discussions, led by First Corinthian Baptist Church Senior Pastor Rev. Michael Walrond, MDiv. The panel discussions will touch on topics such as how families in New York City can gain better access to resources to bolster Other speakers include NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks, NBA Players Association Director of the Mental Health and Wellness Program Dr. Bill Parham, and Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti, PhD, the NFL’s Vice President of Wellness and Clinical Services. There will also be a fencing demonstration led by U.S. Olympic Team fencing coach Akhi Spencer-El.
Afterward, attendees and the public are invited to the wellness fair which will take place on 116th Street featuring free food, games, face painting, and other engaging activities. Health screenings and free information on resources will also be provided by vendors at the wellness fair. Aside from FCBC, other sponsors for the event include Coca-Cola, the Mother Cabrini Foundation, Athletes For Hope, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinia along with the American Psychiatric Association. The wellness festival will run from 1 to 4 PM.
For more information, those interested are invited to check out the event’s website.
Maria Becerra has announced she’s taking a break from social media to focus on her mental health amid panic and anxiety attacks she’s experienced while on tour in Europe.
On Tuesday (July 30), the Argentine hitmaker began her emotional X post with, “I’m leaving this social media platform.” Later in the thread, she explained that she’s “detoxing” from not only X, but all social media.
“I have struggled a lot with my mental health on this European tour, it feels horrible, I have experienced everything from crying spells to anxiety and panic attacks,” she wrote in Spanish. “It’s waking up every day and reading thousands of offensive things about me and talking about my personal life and the way I dress — as if I’m committing some crime and deserve the worst when it’s just MY TASTE to dress. They pick on my physique on a daily basis, on everything! I understand that this is part of the fame.”
She continued: “I understand that many of you want to help and advise me and you of all people know that I listen to you and care a lot about what you think. But to get to the point of insulting me like you do is unacceptable to me. I will no longer tolerate this because it’s not good for me. I understand that things like this will continue to happen to me. But I’m not going to continue being a masochist having a social account where you enter and it’s just reading horrible things. I’m out of here. Thanks to all who support me and send me their love.”
Trending on Billboard
Signed to Warner Music Latina, in a joint venture with 300 Entertainment, the singer-songwriter is currently touring in Spain and will then head to Latin America to continue her world trek. She’s set to kick off the U.S. leg of her stint in October, with stops in New York, L.A. and Dallas, among other major cities.
The 24-year-old artist — known for fusing pop, cumbia villera, bachata and reggaeton — broke out in 2019 with her EP 222. Two years later, she released her debut album, Animal, featuring collaborations with artists such as Cazzu, Becky G and Tiago PZK. The set earned Becerra a Latin Grammy nomination for best urban music album.
Most recently, she teamed up with Gloria Trevi for “Borracha.” She’s also set to participate in Billboard Latin Music Week, as announced on Wednesday (July 31).
“I will get back to my cell phone when I feel able to do it. For the moment it has only caused me anxiety and panic,” she ended the X thread.
Read the original post in Spanish below:
Me voy de esta red social. He luchado mucho con mi salud mental en esta gira por Europa, se siente horrible todo esto, experimente desde ataques de llanto hasta ataques de ansiedad y panico.Es despertarme todos los dias y leer miles de cosas ofensivas sobre mi hablando 👇🏽— LNDA 🇦🇷 (@MariaBecerra22) July 31, 2024
Carrie Underwood has teamed with rock band Papa Roach to help shine a light on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. The Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year winner and the Grammy-nominated band will release a new version of Papa Roach’s song “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)” on Friday, Aug. 2.
“We were humbled that Carrie was open to our mission, and hearing the power of Carrie’s voice in that recording session we were blown away,” Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix said in a statement. “Not only is her vocal ability unequaled, but the impact of her voice brings a new meaning to our cause and will help people all over the globe. It’s an honor to have a ‘Rock Star’ bring life to this track with us.”
Trending on Billboard
“I’m such a huge fan of Jacoby and Papa Roach and was honored to be invited to record ‘Leave a Light On’ with them,” Underwood added. “It’s a beautiful song and the message behind it and the band’s mission to shine a light on suicide prevention and mental health awareness has never been more important.”
The song was recorded in Nashville, and both artists’ royalties generated from the track will aid the organization American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The release also raises awareness for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the United State and Canada.
Papa Roach first performed “Leave a Light On” in concert last year with Shinedown and Spiritbox, and in each city, the song was preceded by a video PSA delivered by Shaddix, who also pledged to donate to the AFSP on behalf of each city’s attendees, which led to a $155,000 donation at the tour’s conclusion.
To further propel support for the AFSP, the band renamed the song “Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark),” to correspond with the AFSP’s “Talk Away the Dark” campaign. The song spent three weeks atop Billboard‘s Rock Airplay chart in February, and reached No. 11 on the Alternative Airplay chart. To date, the band’s efforts have raised more than $250,000 for the AFSP.
“Papa Roach’s ‘Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)’ has tapped into a cultural moment in which people are eager and ready for the message the song contains: that we all go through difficult times and that we can all be there for each other,” said American Foundation for Suicide Prevention CEO Bob Gebbia. “We want to thank Carrie Underwood for joining with Papa Roach to record this new, inspiring duet version, which will reach even more fans and connect them to AFSP’s Talk Away the Dark campaign. We are also incredibly grateful to Papa Roach and Carrie Underwood for their commitment to providing those struggling with their mental health information and resources that can help. These amazing artists are educating the public about the importance of taking care of our mental health, and they are generously supporting AFSP’s mission of saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide.”
Throughout her career, Underwood has regularly dabbled in the rock arena, including covers of songs including Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Paradise City,” Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and INXS’ “Never Tear Us Apart.” She also teamed with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler during the 2011 ACM Awards to perform a mashup of her own “Undo It” and Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.”
If you or anyone you know is in crisis, call 988 or visit the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s website for free, confidential emotional support and resources 24/7.
Jessie J revealed to her fans on Saturday that she was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive behavior (OCD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder three months ago and that the information has helped her understand a lot about her struggles as a child and adult.
In the lengthy post that was accompanied by a vintage video of Jessie singing “Out Here On My Own” from Fame as a teen and a more recent video of her singing Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody,” the 36-year-old star explained how her diagnoses have affected how she thinks about herself.
“I was diagnosed with ADHD and OCD about 3 months ago. In telling people a lot of the reaction I got was ‘Yeah I mean we knew that’ (which I’m sure some of you are doing right now) 😂 and ofcourse I knew to some extent but having a baby has let’s say… exposed it a lot more 🤪🥴which was comforting in a way, as it made it feel less heavy and scary,” she wrote. “But also in moments has made me feel like I can’t talk about it. F*** that. Here I am talking about it. Embracing it with the 🌎 😂.”
Trending on Billboard
Jessie, who welcomed son Sky with partner Chanan Colman in 2023, added that, “It’s weird when you know you have been a little different and felt things differently your whole life, and finally one day when you least expect it, someone really explains why and you can’t avoid it. ADHD has such a wide spectrum it’s like a mystery putting your version of it together, that’s how it’s felt for me. In really understanding ways to cope, excel and grow with it. Tbh I low key feel like it’s a superpower as long as you look at it from the right perspective and have the right support and people around you that can navigate it with you.”
The new information has made Jessie think about her life in a whole new way, she said. “The way I’ve been, the way I deal with things. The relationships I have had. How I work and how I love,” Jessie wrote. “It’s empowered me and honestly sometimes has overwhelmed me all at the same time. If there is one thing social media has given me, it’s the chance to relate, connect and heal with strangers that have kinds hearts and are going through a similar thing. I have always been honest in the journey I’m going through in life.”
Understanding that there are many people who are going through the same struggles — more than 366 million adults worldwide were diagnosed with ADHD as of 2020 and approximately 1%-3% of the global population has OCD — Jessie said, “I’m honestly just reaching out to hold your hand and because I need mine held too. I have no boundaries lol we know that. It has made me love myself even more. I’m hugging 11 year old me. Who would clean her trainers with a toothbrush when she was stressed and to this day has lived with a 1000 lists to not feel like life will crumble 😂.”
In 2020, Jessie wrote a series of Instagram posts in which she revealed that she’d been hospitalized with the inner ear condition Meniere’s disease, which can cause severe vertigo and which left her unable to walk and deaf in one hear. She’s also previously opened up about having a stroke when she was 18 as well as a painful throat condition and miscarriage in 2021.
The singer ended with a uplifting note about how the diagnosis has allowed her to love and understand herself even better. “Here’s to getting to know yourself even more through life,” she wrote. “And loving yourself all the way. Nothing in life defines us, but it helps us grow and become a more wholesome version of ourselves.”
Back in September, Jessie announced that after a 17-year-run with Republic Records she had split with her longtime label and plans to release her next project independently.
See Jessie’s post below.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357) is available 24/7.
The Songwriters of North America (SONA) Foundation has partnered with mental health provider Backline to launch a new therapy assistance project. Called TAP, the program will provide qualifying songwriters up to $1,500 in funding for therapy services. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed weekly. Each week, the program manager will send new […]