Alanis Morissette has shared a brand new song for those struggling with “depression and anxiety, isolation, suicidal ideation and the profound despair that mental illness can plunge us into” in support of Mental Health Action Day.
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Morissette shared the powerful new song “Rest” as she sings a powerful message about mental health. “You think me a coward but I am a warrior/With many voices in my head/When I looked around and I reached out/I saw no alternative,” she sings in the opening verse.
Morissette sings about her own struggles as well” “You think it's a walk in the park and it's easy / ‘She's got it as good as it gets’ / This misunderstanding's the line between living / or being the walking dead.”
Morissette has long been open about her own mental health struggles and has used her platform to help those who are experiencing similar issues.
During the 2020 I’m Listening special, Morissette shared advice on how to help out people who are going through a rough time. “First I would just sit with them and let them know I’m not going anywhere and then I would sit in silence with them for as long as they wanted,” she said. “Then eventually if someone begins to feel safe enough, they might risk telling me in this case what’s actually going on for them. Mentally, thoughts, physically, emotionally, psychically, spiritually.”
“I would just be sitting there with as much presence as I could muster and 'I’m not going anywhere' energy and really wait to create this safety.”
May 20, 2021 marks the first-ever Mental Health Action Day, a day that allows individuals to assess their own mental health needs and find the tools and resources that offer support.
“While more people than ever before are comfortable discussing mental health, many fall through the cracks in the space between awareness and action – particularly those who have been marginalized or underserved by existing institutions,” a statement on Mental Health Action Day’s website reads.
"That is why a coalition of nonprofits, brands, and influential leaders are coming together to launch the first-ever Mental Health Action Day that will drive our culture from awareness to action. This moment will provide the tangible tools that will help us all take an action for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for our community.”
WATCH MORE: Simple ways you can reduce anxiety and stress in your life
Audacy’s I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.
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