The song “Kevin” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis can be thought of as a follow-up to their song “Otherside”, a story about drug abuse and…
The song “Manic Depression” by Jimi Hendrix exposes “the frustrating mess” of this illness, now known as bipolar disorder. Hendrix himself was never diagnosed as…
“Armatage Shanks” is a song written by Billy Joe Armstrong of the band Green Day when he was devastated after a break up and said…
With a luring melody and evocative lyrics, “Demons” by the Grammy Award winning rock group Imagine Dragons leads listeners to the place inside many people…
“What’s eating you alive, might help you to survive” The Ted Leo and the Pharmacists song “Me and Mia” describes what it’s like to live…
The R.E.M. song Everybody Hurts reaches out to those struggling with sadness, loneliness, despair, or thoughts of suicide, asking them to “Hold on”. The message…
When she was 10 years old, Sarah wrote the original song “Dream Child” in memory of her young cousin who had died within of few…
7 Years’ is a song written by Lukas Graham, which describes growing up. The lyrics touch on the theme of aging and the fear of…
‘Whiskey Lullaby’, performed by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss, is a song about loneliness, heartbreak, and alcohol abuse.With lyrics like, “The put him out like…
‘Guns for Hands’, a song by Twenty-One Pilots, offers a strong contrast of an up-beat rhythm and dark powerful lyrics. The song follows a story…
‘Happy Little Pill’, performed by Troye Sivan, is a song about loneliness, antidepressants, and different ways that people cope. As Sivan explains, it was written during a…
Control, a song performed by artist Halsey, is a personification of her own mental illness. After being diagnosis with bipolar disorder in her teenage years,…
After battling bulimia in 2011, Demi Lovato underwent treatment in a rehab facility. As she continued to heal, she released this song to show that…
“Jump They Say” written and performed by David Bowie is a song about Bowie’s brother, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and jumped from a building…
“Hurt”, by Nine Inch Nails describes band member and lead vocalist Trent Reznor’s struggle with self-harm, heroin addiction, depression, and suicidal thoughts. He uses writing…
‘Scars’, a song by artist Allison Iraheta, describes her personal journey through emotional abuse and depression. The lyrics depict the sense of hopelessness and confusion she…
Rascal Flatt’s “Why?” documents indescribable pain and grief felt by a family after losing a loved one to suicide. The lyrics “Why, that’s what I…
The National’s “Terrible Love” depicts the personal anguish and loneliness of an individual who suffers from alcoholism. Unable to fall asleep without consuming alcohol, the…
“Hip-hop culture is a powerful vehicle for raising awareness about mental health. It is rich with references to psychiatric illnesses that have not been explored,…
“Ana’s Song (Open Fire)” by Silver Chair describes the personal struggle of the lead singer Daniel Johns’ experience with Anorexia Nervosa. The lyrics depict the…
