To Your Health

What does it mean to be “aware” of mental health, and what does a music festival have to do with it?

There’s a lot going on in that vast time vacuum known as the internet these days. There are a lot of worthy causes, and life hacks, and pro tips swirling around. But if there’s one topic that’s especially near and dear to our hearts, it’s mental health awareness.

But you’re a music festival, you may think. And to that we say, exactly!

We reckon that music and mental health go hand in hand, in more ways than one. We see it in the song lyric that got you through a tough time, in the welcome distraction that comes with enjoying this incredible art form. It’s in the electric charge that comes with creating and playing an instrument, and of course, it’s when artists consider what they create both a release and a therapy.

Beyond curating one day of superb outdoor fun in our hometown, Maha is also a nonprofit organization with a strong devotion to the community around us. We work year-round at that in different ways. And while we can throw a heck of a concert, we’re far from experts in the field of mental health. Luckily, many of our partner organizations are. This season, we’re looking to add one more voice to the mix, because this topic is just that important.

If there are just three things to take away, we hope it’s these:

Mental health issues are extremely common. A recent study highlighted by Psychology Today concluded that 83% of people ages 11–38 have experienced some form of mental illness. That means you are more likely to run across a millennial that enjoys being called a millennial, than one who’s never been personally affected by mental illness. There should not be a stigma.

Mental health is strongly tied to physical health — to put it lightly. That same Psychology Today piece dispels any kind of “imaginary line” between the two. Fact is, both kinds of illness are good reason to seek diagnosis, treatment, and recuperation time — even if “taking a mental health day” isn’t always taken as seriously as it should be.

You can save someone’s life. No mincing words here. Every 13 minutes someone dies by suicide — and that’s just in the US. There are real signs you can look for, and tangible steps to help reroute a person’s path, even if it’s someone you aren’t super close with. If you ask us, considering recent deaths in the music community (the ones we hear about and the ones we don’t) this is as good of a time as ever to think proactively. It doesn’t take long.

We’ll be keeping the conversation going all season long and then some, online and throughout the festival, specifically in our Community Village.

See you by the stage. 👊


Maha Music Festival is an annual summer music fest and nonprofit organization in Omaha, Nebraska founded in 2009. Our mission is to showcase the unique heart and soul of the Midwest, collaborate with our community to provide unforgettable experiences, and position the region as the premier place to put roots down and grow. The 2017 lineup is tight.

Maha Music Festival

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We showcase the unique heart and soul of the Midwest through unforgettable experiences that position our region as the premier place to put roots down and grow.

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