Tag: mental health

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Sarah Yagki Raises Mental Health Awareness With New Single “Just Like Me”

Eora/Sydney alternative-pop artist Sarah Yagki has just dropped a powerful new single “Just Like Me.” Make sure you listen to the lyrics which come from such a personal place.

“The song is written about my experiences watching a friend last year harm themselves in a manic episode and raises awareness for mental health and suicide prevention,” Sarah explained. “The song explores watching a loved one go through their lowest points of mental health and trying not to lose yourself in the process of helping them.”

Sarah is so committed to the cause that when she launched the single recently at Oxford Art Factory, she donated more than $1,000 in ticket sales to Beyond Blue. Don’t worry if you missed it; Sarah is playing a stack of shows all around the country in the coming months:

5 August 2023 – The Front, Ngunnawal/Canberra
6 August 2023 – Birdhouse, Wiradjuri Country/ Wagga Wagga
18 August 2023 – Kelly’s on King, Eora/Sydney (supporting Abbey Lane)
31 August 2023 – Beach Hotel, Cavanbah/Byron Bay
1 September 2023 – Finnian’s Irish Tavern, Guruk/Port Macquarie
2 September 2023 – Flow Bar, Biripi Country/Old Bar
3 September 2023 – Sauce Brewery, Eora/Sydney
6 September 2023 – UNSW, Eora/Sydney
10 September 2023 – Black Bear Lodge, Meeanjin/Brisbane
20 September 2023 – The Hamilton Station, Mulubinba/Newcastle
21 September 2023 – Royal Bondi, Eora/Sydney
28 September 2023 – The Old Bar, Naarm/Melbourne
1 October 2023 – The Workers Club, Naarm/Melbourne
20 October 2023 – The Hamilton Station, Mulubinba/Newcastle
22 October 2023 – Birdhouse, Wiradjuri Country/ Wagga Wagga
25 October 2023 – UNSW, Eora/Sydney
26 October 2023 – The Hamilton Station, Mulubinba/Newcastle
29 October 2023 – North Gong, Dharawal/Wollongong
17 November 2023 – The Bird, Boorloo/Perth
25 November 2023 – Waywards, Eora/Sydney

Image used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Find Music and Mental Health Tips With “Scrub Sessions”

As restrictions ease further today in New South Wales, it can be easy to forget much of Australia is still doing it tough. With the Central Coast lumped back into Greater Sydney, I’m still separated from my family in Newcastle. I’ve spoken to friends in Melbourne who find looking at the images from Sydney a little hard to take. Their restrictions will ease on Friday, but with daily cases at close to 2,000, many still don’t feel confident venturing out. People focus on mental health while we’re all locked down, but I think it’s something that will concern us for some time as we try to navigate the new normal. So I was thrilled to discover Scrub Sessions, a cool podcast series focusing on music and wellness from the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

There are three episodes so far, including the latest featuring doctor and singer-songwriter Gordi. Here’s an awesome musical performance from that episode.

Hosted by the head and founder of the hospital’s Scrub Choir Dr Emma O’Brien OAM, all the episodes feature interviews and music, including some great wellness tips.

“Scrub Sessions aim to lift the spirits of our staff, patients and community,” Dr O’Brien explained. “It’s been a long difficult road for us all, and it is at these times, more than ever, that we need to stay connected and celebrate small moments of joy, working together to face the multiple health, physical, mental and emotional challenges brought on by the pandemic – Scrub Sessions aim to keep the hope alive.”

If you need a pick-me-up, I thoroughly recommend checking the Scrub Sessions out on YouTube or your favourite digital streaming platform.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Luca Brasi Shine a Line on Mental Health With SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY Collab

Luca Brasi has teamed up with SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY to encourage people to get talking about mental health and suicide prevention. To celebrate the collaboration, the Tassie punk act has released a new lyric video for their poignant track “The Truth.” Frontman Tyler Richardson has also shared his personal battle with mental health issues in a new video for the charity’s Stories Worth Sharing series.

“I’ve spent a lot of my adult years in and out of cycles of loss and of grief,” he explained. “I’m even writing these words on the anniversary of a dear friend’s loss; unfortunately I often feel numb on days like these—I’ve had a lot of them. What I don’t want is any more of them, any more days where I have to go and face the family and friends of another lost friend. Any more days of families losing loved ones, of partners losing partners, of parents losing children. We’ve been lucky enough to make connections through this band that I could never have foreseen, this is what I’ll take away from Luca Brasi overall; that I got to somehow touch the lives of others through music in a positive way.”

“‘The Truth’ is about how hopeless I feel during all this loss,” he added. “It’s a hope that this song helps those listening feel less like an island, and that others feel what you have felt/are feeling. You are not alone, I can promise you that.”

You can support the vital work SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY does by buying a new limited edition Luca Brasi T-shirt from the band’s online merch store. All the profits from sales of the charity shirt will benefit the charity directly, so get on it!

Image used with permission from Deathproof PR; credit: Nick Green

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Chris Rose Releases Strong Single “Keep Me Believing”

The global pandemic and R U OK? Day have put mental health matters firmly in the spotlight. Slowly but surely it feels the stigma is breaking down. Songs like “Keep Me Believing,” by Port Macquarie musician Chris Rose, are helping us feel more comfortable having those hard conversations.

This track talks about grappling with anxiety and negative thoughts, yet pushing through them in pursuit of a better life. You might have heard it on a recent Home & Away commercial, but I prefer listening to it in this context, away from those distractingly perfect people.

Chris hasn’t let the global pandemic slow his creativity. His Facebook page reveals he’s been songwriting over Zoom, so hopefully it won’t be too much longer until we hear more new music from him.

Image used with permission from Play MPE

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Levi’s & Support Act Release Web Series For Music Industry Mental Health

Levi’s and Support Act have teamed up to help improve mental health in the local music industry. Together they’ve created Tune Ups, a six-part webseries offering tips on mindfulness and other strategies to combat mental health concerns while highlighting the new Wellbeing Helpline for people working within the music industry. The online videos feature appearances from key music industry figures including Briggs, Alex the Astronaut, Joel Birch from Amity Affliction, and heaps more. Take a look at the video below to learn all about it.

“We are very grateful to Nicky Rowsell and Levi’s for being the driving force behind the campaign,” said Clive Miller, the chief executive officer of Support Act. “Tune Ups highlights how important it is for all of us to be aware of our mental health, and provides some great examples of how people in our industry manage their wellbeing. We hope it inspires anyone who may be doing it tough to know that they are not alone, and that they can reach out to our free, confidential Wellbeing Helpline at any time on on 1800 959 500 if they want to talk to someone about any aspect of their wellbeing.”

You can find the videos on the Support Act website, Vice Music channel Noisey, and other social platforms. While they’re made for music industry professionals, there’s plenty there for anyone who’s struggling with mental health issues. If you or someone you know is struggling, please make sure to take a look.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Highlight Mental Health Issues With “Finger Painting”

Last week Saskwatch released “Finger Painting” through headspace.org.au to coincide with Mental Health Week. I think initiatives like Mental Health Week and R U OK? Day are important for starting the conversation, but I also think it’s vital that we don’t just wait for a special day or week to talk about mental health issues. Because as anyone who’s struggled with them knows, managing the symptoms can be a year round battle.

So while Mental Health Week has passed, I think it’s still important to get this song out there. It details band member Liam McGorry’s own struggles with anxiety and depression.

“With Finger Painting, I wanted to contrast the anxious lyric with the happiness of the music… a bit like how a lot of the time we feel like we have to put up a facade of everything being okay…” he explained.

“Finger Painting” comes from Saskwatch’s fourth studio album Manual Override. They’re currently touring the album all over the country. Here’s where you can still catch them play. Seeing live music can be great therapy in my personal experience, but remember if you’re struggling that professional help is also available. Visiting the Headspace website is a great place to start.

21 October 2017 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
26 October 2017 – Strawberry Boogie, Wollongong
27 October 2017 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
28 October 2017 – The Small Ballroom, Newcastle
29 October 2017 – Long Jetty Hotel, Long Jetty
2 November 2017 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
3 November 2017 – The Triffid, Brisbane
4 November 2017 – Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay
18 November 2017 – Fat Controller, Adelaide

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Ruckus Release “Steady Hands” for HeadSpace

Sydney band The Ruckus is the latest act to put their talents towards mental health initiatives in support of Mental Health Month. Their latest single “Steady Hands” is a melodic slice of hard rock with a wonderful message of empowerment that should resonate whether you’re dealing with mental health issues or not.

The cause is close to The Ruckus’ heart, as the band has personally faced the challenges that depression and other mental health concerns can bring.

All proceeds from the sale and streaming of “Steady Hands” will benefit the HeadSpace initiative, which provides early intervention mental health services to young people in need. So if you like what you hear, please head over to iTunes and download it to support this great cause.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tim Rogers and Pete Satchell Play for Mental Health

Aussie legends Tim Rogers (You Am I) and Pete Satchell (Dallas Crane) will head the line-up of a massive mental health charity gig in Melbourne.

Mad Hatters Night will take place at St Kilda’s Gershwin Room on October 9. Tim and Pete will join the Bipolar Bears, Heidi Everett, and the Melbourne Mass Gospel Choir for the show.

All funds raised will benefit The Music Network for Mental Health, a program which brings musicians with mental illness together for performances and songwriting workshops.

Tickets are just $15, or $8 for concessions, so if you’re in Victoria make sure you get along and support this awesome cause!

Image source: Irene Tong @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Shannon Noll’s Shock Drugs Confession

Yesterday Shannon Noll came clean about his addiction to drugs and alcohol. Shannon told The Sunday Telegraph that he turned to drink and drugs after the death of his father Neil seven years ago.

“You can live well, do everything right, and still be killed,” he said. “So I thought I’d have a crack at everything. I didn’t let myself think about him [his father] when I was smashed. Consequently, I found myself getting smashed a lot.”

Shannon said his children Cody, Blake, and Sienna, gave him the motivation to beat his demons.

“I got to a stage where I had to own up to it. I’d turned into a zombie on the lounge. I wasn’t doing anything useful.”

Shannon didn’t go into detail about his vices, but did admit to using marijuana heavily and enjoying a beer.

Shannon’s going to be slammed for his mistakes because he’s a role model, and I can see the logic there. Like it or not, celebrities are placed on pedestals and their behaviour does influence other people. But I think going public about his habits is gutsy move. It takes a big man to admit they’ve done the wrong thing. And who knows? Maybe his talk about change will motivate someone else to clean up their act.