Opening Up About Mental Health at the Grammy Awards
Alicia Keys referred to music as “the most healing thing in the world,” during her hosting stint at this year’s Grammy Awards.
We are encouraged to hear more and more artists come forward to address mental health and opening up — in their music and in comments made during interviews and acceptance speeches — about their challenges. On what is one of music’s biggest stages, we heard honest and inspiring comments during the Grammy Awards.
The night’s big winner was Billie Eilish, who collaborated with her brother, Finneas, on the songs from her winning album. In an acceptance speech, he shared: “We didn’t write a speech for this because we didn’t make this album to win a Grammy. We didn’t think it would win anything ever. We wrote an album about depression and suicidal thoughts and climate change and being the bad guy — whatever that means — and we stand up here confused and grateful.”
There was also an emotional performance by Demi Lovato, who has opened up about her struggles with mental health and addiction and returned to the stage for the first time after an overdose.
On the red carpet, Bebe Rexha revealed that her upcoming album will address her bipolar disorder.
You may recall that Lady Gaga used last year’s Grammy Awards stage to implore fans struggling with mental health challenges to to seek help and for others to offers support. “If you see somebody that’s hurting, don’t look away. And if you’re hurting, even though it might be hard, try to find that bravery within yourself to dive deep and go tell somebody and take them up in your head with you.”
More on the subject:
Billie Eilish Opens Up About Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm (Teen Vogue)
Billie Eilish On Mental Health: ‘I Didn’t Think I Would Make It To 17’ (Huffington Post)
Demi Lovato Makes a Powerful Confession at the Grammys (The Atlantic)
