Chester Bennington’s Suicide
How do we respond?
Growing up, I think everyone can remember playing Hybrid Theory on repeat. There were songs that spoke deep into your soul during events or trials you were going through in life.
After concerts, men and women come up to me and many fellow artists in the metal music industry and share just how those songs impacted them through some of the toughest moments of their lives. One fan I’ve become close with almost hung himself under the rafters of his house, but some lyrics came to mind and he chose to live instead.
Sadly, that didn’t happen for Chester Bennington.
The reason we connect so deeply to artist’s lyrics is because it’s them pouring out the raw portions of their lives. That rawness compounded with life on the road, leads to a lot of pressure many artists never reveal except through fake smiles and interviews. You wouldn’t believe the amount of band guys that have massive followings and appear to be worshiped, but are absolutely depressed and lonely.
We think our heroes are immune because they have a following, a fan base, or money.
But they’re human.
They struggle just like you and me. They get depressed. They go through heartache, failure, and hurt.
The fight for mental health is real if we’re going to realize anything. But it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Building resilient men and women and pouring into their lives takes time and resources, so there’s not instant results.
I grieve the loss of Chester and his influence. I pray for his family and six children. I grieve the message it may send to fans. I hope fans around the world are praying for his family or sending good vibes their way. But I also see this as an opportunity to send up a flare and remind people the fight is real.
We’ve already lost Chris Cornell and now Chester. If the fight wasn’t real we wouldn’t have so many people ranging from our favorite artists to our neighbors struggling with suicide.
We must remember we’re all in this together and can be the difference between life or death. Today, you might just be the difference between someone taking their life. Step into that space. Bless them. Care for them.
Even if they’re someone you look up to.
*If you or someone you know is struggling, the community at HeartSupport is available for encouragement and support.
