[title]
New Yorkers are very familiar with mental health and many of us could use all the help we can get. Luckily, admitting that you're not okay has become slightly more normalized in our culture and a music festival focusing on the subject seeks to ameliorate the situation even further.
Coming back to Brooklyn for its seventh iteration on Sunday, May 18 is Sound Mind Live's Music Festival for Mental Health. The event will take over the Brooklyn Paramount and feature music acts, comedy performances and panels that are sure to appeal to all New Yorkers who are really going through "it."
RECOMMENDED: Damballa is the hottest new dance spot on Myrtle-Broadway
According to a 2022 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was the second leading cause of death among those between the ages of 10-14 and 25-34, a statistic that the festival hopes to change by providing crucial support and helping people find the type of resources they may need.
The event will kick off at 7pm and it will be hosted by comedian Jordan Carlos. Expect sets by psychedelic pop artist Børns, rock band American Authors, songwriter and activist MILCK and a spoken word segment by Hakeem Rahim.
The happening will also feature panels and discussions about mental health, social justice and community healing, including a live recording of the Sound Mind/Consequence podcast, Going there with Dr. Mike. There will also be an audience singing experience led by the Gaia Music Collective.
The focus on wellbeing will go beyond the event itself: on site, participants will have access to representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and other organizations.
Although the topic of the festival is a serious and important one, expect a fun environment ideal for learning and healing. Last year, the festival took place across several Bushwick blocks, featuring stations where guests could partake in yoga, meditation and other mindfulness practices.
Tickets for the festival start at $35 and climb up to $135 when it comes to VIP passes, which include a private viewing area, two drinks and merch. Tickets will go on sale this Thursday, April 3, at 11am right here. If you can’t attend the festival in person but would still like to support, you can stream the event on YouTube.