Alexander 23 & Mental Health

We write a lot of articles about mental health here on HerCampus, not because we have nothing else to say, but because it is so important to normalize. October 10th was Mental Health Awareness Day and in honor of that I wanted to write a piece highlighting someone who advocates for awareness in a big way: Alexander 23.

Let me start off my saying Alexander 23 is one of my favorite artists right now, so I may be a little biased. But, aside from being a genius songwriter, he is also an advocate for mental health awareness by using his platform and songs. 

His latest song ‘Brainstorm’ is all about mental health 

His most recent song, Brainstorm, may unequivocally be the best song to describe what it feels like to love someone suffering with a mental health problem. The entire song likens the ever-changing stages of weather to what’s going on in someone’s head. 

I think the lyrics, “You say the building’s burning down// But I see no smoke down from the ground,” can really resonate with people because it’s not always easy to see how someone is suffering. They may look completely okay on the outside, but have a forest fire going on in their brain. Just because someone acts okay, it doesn’t always mean they are. 

The chorus of the song continuously echoes the question “Where do you go, when nobody knows where you are?” When I heard that I immediately thought of myself and so many people in my life who go off to a place in their minds when they’re in a bad place. I think that while it may sound like a really weird question to ask people, it’s important. It’s important to ask people where their head is at or what they’re thinking about when they’re distant. So many times, I think people mistake people’s absence or distance for being rude, when really they’re just so far off in their own headspace that they don’t know how to be around other people at the same time.  

This song is the reason I’ll ask people if it’s easier to describe how they’re feeling mentally by equating it to weather. Because you can say “How are you?” and the easiest response will be “Fine,” but if you ask, “What’s the weather like in your head,” there are so many ways to describe it. One day I might feel like sunshine and another I may feel like there are hurricane winds that won’t slow down. The weather can describe symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, etc. 

I could go on and on about the lyrics in this song, but I’ll let you listen to it yourself and send it to your friends too — Brainstorm

The Merch

He also just dropped a new t-shirt on mental health day that has the letters printed backwards so when you look in the mirror you can have a reminder for yourself. It says “Objects in mirror may be sadder than they appear. Handle with care.” And that’s true. You can’t know what’s happening in everyone’s lives or what storms they’re chasing internally, so just be a damn good human and be nice to others. If you buy this shirt all proceeds go to the LoveLand Foundation and the American Foudation for Suicide Prevention. He has another shirt too, where if you buy it all of the proceeds go to just the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. 

Alexander 23 is an artist that reminds all of us that not being okay is okay and he actively speaks out about his own mental health as well. He’s a celebrity that uses his platform to spark a conversation that a lot of people are scared to talk about. So stop stanning problematic artists and start stanning him. I love his music and hope you do too. Even if you hate it, I hope at least his new song reminds you to check in with your loved ones and yourself. 

For funsies, my other favorite songs by him that evoke a LOT of feelings for me are: Caught in the Middle, IDK You Yet and Dirty AF1’s.