Stopping the Stigma

People who suffer from mental illness often feel unable to speak out due to the stigma facing them. Musicians are able to connect with fans through both their music and other comments, helping create a mutual feeling of comfort that what goes on inside the head is as important as what can be seen by the naked eye.

• On Amy Winehouse's Death and the Music Industry

  Amy Winehouse's passing was a catalyst for conversation regarding mental health. This article looks at how the music industry treats struggling musicians. Fans will always follow their favorites' leads, making it crucial for musicians to get the help they need.

• Linkin Park's "One More Light" was a Missed Warning Sign

  This song by Linkin Park was a missed call for help by lead singer Chester Bennington. Bennington committed suicide this summer, a tragic passing that re-ignited the conversation regarding mental health.

• Remember: Musicians Are Humans Too

  We often forget that while we would love for musicians to help fans feel more comfortable, they are battling their own demons as well. This article looks at how musicians and fans connect through battling mental disorders.

• Noisey's Guide to Music and Mental Health

  As the conversation surrounding music and mental health has grown, Noisey has taken the time to address various aspects. Read through the various articles to learn more about stopping the stigma and receiving proper help.

Passion Pit's Passionate Pleas

Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit has been through it all, so he wants those going through their own struggles to feel like they are not alone, and that research is coming to help them.

• Michael Angelakos' Story

  Passion Pit is led by Michael Angelakos. To the naked eye, Angelakos is another singer with fame and a strong personality. However, there is so much more to his story. Through near-death experiences and looking within himself, Angelakos' story is one worth reading.

• Michael Angelakos and a Neuroscientist on #WhyWeNeedScience

  Michael Angelakos' latest project was one of a kind. Angelakos originally released his music in exchange for people calling out for further research on mental health. Angelakos has been heavily involved with a neuroscientist on Twitter to try to gain awareness.

• Passion Pit Challenges the Stigma

  While Passion Pit's sound is fun and energetic, their music is incredibly important. Mic looks at eight examples of Passion Pit breaking the stigma.

• I'll Be Alright

  This Passion Pit song is a take on Angelakos' time dealing with mania and more. The title of the song leads one to believe everything is fine, but the story within the song is one of an artist losing control. This story of living with manic depression is something fans with the disorder can relate to.

• Lifted Up (1985)

  Lifted Up is a song of hope for Angelakos and fans alike. It reminds listeners that things can end up alright.

Pop Punk Takes On Mental Illness

Pop Punk is a genre of music known for silly songs about sex and drugs, but that's not all the musicians do. Sure, Modern Baseball has a song about a Twitter girlfriend, but they also write about their experiences with loss, mental illness, and more. Pop Punk tackles mental illness head-on, creating some of the most welcoming environments in music.

• Modern Baseball Knows, so Modern Baseball Cares

  There's something different about someone going through similar experiences as you. Modern Baseball doesn't only talk the talk, but they have unfortunately walked the walk as well. That leaves them able to help their fans, something they readily hope to do.

• “Modern Baseball Saved My Life”

  Brendan Lukens of Modern Baseball talks openly about his battles with mental illness, and how his band and their fans helped prevent him from bottoming out.

• Holy Ghost Tackles Loss and Mental Illness

  Modern Baseball's most recent LP is split between Jake Ewald's attempts to face his Grandfather's passing, and Brendan Lukens' work to battle his mental struggles. The final song, "Just Another Face," is one of pop punk's anthems regarding mental illness.

• Sorority Noise's Hopeful Help

  Cam Boucher may deal with plenty, but he is one of the pillars of the pop punk world. Boucher speaks at each concert about his experiences with mental illness, and also sings about them in his music. Boucher's work helps fans feel more comfortable with their own struggles.

• Cam Boucher of Sorority Noise on Various Mental Illness-Related Topics

  This interview includes plenty of insight on music, mental illness, and more.

• "Mononokay" by Sorority Noise

  "I'm getting better/at getting better/I'm getting better/at being me," writes Cam Boucher.

• "Using" by Sorority Noise

  Battling drug use and all of the negative factors in his life, Cam Boucher breaks out with Sorority Noise's "Using."

Musicians Speak Out

Passion Pit and Pop Punk musicians aren't the only ones who have taken their standing in society seriously. Here are some examples of musicians using their respective platforms to speak out.

• Logic's Performance Made a Difference

  The title of Logic's "1-800-273-8255" is the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Logic wrote the song about his own struggles, but also to help others. It worked. Calls came in at a higher volume than ever to the suicide hotline, and musicians have taken notice.

• Logic's VMA Performance Makes a Statement

  Rapper "Logic" used his VMA performance as an opportunity to let suicide attempt survivors onto the stage with him. Logic celebrates the beauty of being alive, and calls for help so no one feels alone.

• Musicians on Mental Health

  More artists are speaking out about the importance of stopping the stigma against mental health each day. Various high-profile musicians share their thoughts in this article.

About the Author

• Brandon Cohen

  While I typically make my "About the Author" section a simple summary of my life, I prefer to share why I felt this roll was important to create. As someone who admires artists and attempts to create art, (poetry) I feel strongly that as a society we are not doing enough to help those struggling with mental illness. When a celebrity dies we tweet out the suicide hotline number and believe we have done our part. However, there are musicians helping fans on a daily basis, writing songs that connect with people in turmoil, and speaking openly about their experiences. We must have a dialogue in order for people to feel comfortable. What happens in the head is just as relevant as what happens to the naked eye. I write often about my experiences with mental illness, hoping I can help someone feel less alone. While poetry is one platform to do that, music is another. A grand platform indeed, music is a direct connection between the bands and their fans. So in reading this roll, I hope you feel less alone. Musicians struggle plenty, and every person has their own demons to battle. Let's do this together.

• Written and Spoken Words of Brandon Cohen

  My path to becoming a writer was never what one would expect a writer's to be. Throughout the majority of my education, I knew I wanted to be a journalist, but I was mostly interested in the concept of reporting rather than writing. However, that all changed when I attended Hofstra University as a sophomore in college. I had decided not to move forward with journalism, feeling the major suppressed my creative abilities. With no major chosen, I took a variety of classes to see what stuck. One of those classes was a Creative Writing course taught by a Professor who just happened to have the last name Plath. The class taught me about how flexible words can be. Rather than being required to write in a certain style, I was able to identify what I wanted to do with words, and make that happen. I learned how to write in different perspectives when Professor Plath assigned us to write about something we could not experience ourselves, and I had to slip into the skin of someone I was not. By the middle of the semester I was eagerly awaiting assignments, writing in my free time, and studying various aspects of the writing world for fun. Soon after taking the class I declared myself an English major, versed myself in as many cultures as possible, and took notes on Spoken Word Poetry performances, written poetry, and more. That only furthered my interest in writing, leading me to study copywriting, journalism (under my own curriculum), and any other form of writing I could find. My love of sports had me editing and writing for various publications since the age of 16, so I continued with that while pursuing my more creative endeavors and learning to maneuver myself into as many possible forms of writing as possible. With that, I now am confident I can approach any style of writing with enthusiasm, experience, and knowledge.

• 15 Pop Punk Songs for the Melancholic Soul

  Here is a roll I wrote on the more serene pop punk songs. While the term "pop punk" covers far too many different types of music, it is still one of the primary genres in music today. There has been a recent wave of additions to the pop punk world, including the likes of Modern Baseball, Sorority Noise and more. Though the majority of pop punk hits gain their popularity behind blaring guitars and booming vocals, even the heaviest of sounds become toned down at least once per album. These songs are not all quiet, but they all will make a melancholic soul realize how much there is to the pop punk genre.

• Bublup

  I work for Bublup, which is the app I used to make this roll. If you like how it looks and want to make one too, check us out!