Mental Health Awareness: Guest Blog - How Music Can Save Lives
As we continue to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, we turn the blog over to another member of the 8123 family, Rachelle!
Music is so powerful that it transcends to the human soul. And as we celebrate mental health awareness month, I just want to emphasize how music can literally save lives. This is my personal experience with the band called The Maine & the 8123 family.
Mental health is as important as our physical well-being, but mental illnesses are often stigmatized. In the Philippines, despite having the new Mental Health Law, the reality of inaccessibility of basic services due to financial constraints and the societal norms attached to mental disorders is still a challenge for seeking help. Some people have no choice but to fight their battles silently in the dark. It is humane to be empathetic and kind towards the people that we encounter every day as we know nothing about their story or what they are going through.
Achieving better mental health, people try different coping mechanisms - some write, make art, play musical instruments, watch their comfort shows, take a break, etc. Well, for me, I usually enjoy listening to music & looking for dark-humored memes on my favorite Facebook pages.
Listening to music greatly changed my life. I hate to be alone with my own thoughts, so by hearing those beautiful words made into music by my favorite bands/artists instead of the voices in my head - it has this power that makes me feel like someone understands me and re-assures me that I am not alone. This happened when I first heard (Un)lost, 6 years ago after a friend of mine covers a particular song in the American Candy album and that is the story how I discover The Maine.
The Maine has played in the Philippines several times already but, I was only a student fan before with my family having some financial difficulties, so concerts were kind of out of reach. Thinking it is too impossible to happen, I even said to myself that I could happily die once I saw or hear them live. It was only in 2019 for the You Are Ok tour that I was able to fulfill one of the things on my bucket list! It was a night to remember.
I attended the concert alone, but I never felt lonely in the crowd - that is when I knew there is something special with the 8123 community. That two-hour concert literally changed my perspective in life. Because finally, after so many years of feeling dead inside, I felt so alive. I almost forgot what happiness looks like, but that concert experience gave me hope and made me realize that life could still be this wonderful despite all the pain and suffering. And on that night, I promised myself that I would keep going even on the days that I want to give up because I would want to re-live those moments all over again.
Long live, The Maine! To these five guys from Arizona who remain to be on the same page of creating remarkable music and growing with their fans through the years. I am forever thankful - I owe you, my life!
Guest blog written by: Rachelle Dela Cruz