Talking about mental health struggles, especially in the rock ‘n’ roll scene, might be challenging. However, according to Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale’s interview with Forbes, although some artists still view it as nonsense, that number has been drastically declining as more and more musicians talk about their mental health journeys.
“I’ve seen both sides of it,” said Hale, describing the two opposite views on mental health in the rock community. “On the one hand, this community is a sacred place for the downtrodden. Metal and hard rock music have always been a champion of the people who are different, those who don’t fit in, and those who have mental issues. This is the genre where we can talk about those things.”
However, she noted that some people on the rock scene still don’t understand the importance of mental health due to toxic masculinity. Lzzy explained, “At the same time, it’s like a tough guy business, and certain community members are like, ‘I would never meet with a therapist because that means I’m crazy,’ and that kind of thing. But that’s also starting to go away at a very rapid pace. I love that nowadays we are talking more about breaking that kind of stigma.”
The two opposing arguments are not that different in any other industry. Still, artists like Hale, who share their struggles with their fans, are opening doors to others in the rock community that might be struggling with similar problems. Hale also hasn’t shied away from sharing her struggles to urge the community to discuss their issues. Bottling it up inside doesn’t do anyone any good, and sharing might give someone the push to get the help they need to live their best lives.
