Mental health is something that affects many people, and resources and information can sometimes be hard to come by.
American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan created the Busyhead Project, a mental health initiative that works to provide information and resources to end the stigma around mental health.
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that more than one in five adults in the United States have a mental illness. Kahan has been open about his own mental health struggles, and many of his song lyrics reflect these struggles.
Kahan signed his first record deal in 2015 with Republic Records and released his debut album “Busyhead” in 2019. Kahan released his sophomore album, “I Was / I Am” in 2021 before releasing fan favorite “Stick Season” in 2022. The success of “Stick Season” allowed Kahan to go on sold out tours where he was able to promote the Busyhead Project.
According to Mental Health America, over half of all adults with a mental illness don’t receive care.
Kahan’s latest “We’ll All Be Here Forever” tour offered a special ticket that put $1 towards the Busyhead Project for every ticket sold. Each tour stop included a Busyhead Project Action Village that gave information on local mental health resources as well as voter registration details, and allowed concert goers to share positive messages with one another.
According to a survey from CNN in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation, nine in ten adults believe there is a mental crisis in the United States. Kahan is actively working to raise awareness and provide resources to those struggling with their mental health.
In an interview with Billboard earlier this year, Kahan spoke about wanting to continuously expand his mental health work in correlation with his rising success, and earlier this month, Kahan held a charity benefit concert in Vermont with all proceeds going to the Busyhead Project. The concert sold out. What Kahan is doing is something all artists should be doing. There’s no reason why other big music can’t use their platforms and resources for good and consistently give back to causes they feel are important.
In only one year, Kahan has used his resources and platform to create an initiative that actively supports mental health and provides resources for those who need it. The Busyhead Project has raised over $2.5 million since its launch, benefiting over 55 mental health organizations across the U.S, Canada, Mexico, and most recently, the U.K.
Kahan wrote an article for Time in 2023 where he detailed his mental health struggles and explained why he started the Busyhead Project.
“It’s no secret I pour my mental health into my music, and I will continue to do so,” Kahan said. “But it means so much to me to be able to evolve that into actionable support.”
Kahan will continue to provide through the Busyhead Project, and it's time for more artists, especially those with large platforms, to use their fame and fortune for good.
Elizabeth Talaga is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Elizabeth know by emailing her at et029322@ohio.edu
