April 5th saw fans from around the world paying tribute to Kurt Cobain, the lead singer/songwriter of Nirvana who died 25 years ago on April 5, 1994.
While he may have left this earth far too early, his impact and influence on pop-culture and the alternative music scene is immeasurable. But for all the accolades bestowed upon Kurt for his musical contributions, his battles with his physical and mental health over the course of his career has become almost as storied as the meaning behind the lyrics of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’.
Frances Bean Cobain, Kurt’s daughter, was among the many to pay tribute to the Nirvana frontman. But rather than share a heartfelt letter about her father like she did on what would’ve been Kurt’s 50th birthday last in February 2017, she decided to send a powerful message to those struggling with their mental health and the importance of seeking help.
Posting to her Instagram stories, the 26-year-old shared a link and number to America’s National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the following message:
“If you are struggling with your mental health and need someone to talk to please do not be afraid to reach out to your friends, neighbors, parents, counselors, teachers or even strangers on the internet.
“Needing help is not weakness. Lets end the stigma and shame towards the struggle with mental health.”
Despite increasing awareness, there is still a stigma in regards to seeking mental health care. With a worryingly high amount of young people who refuse to seek assistance due to embarrassment or fear, Frances’ message is exactly what we need right now in the fight to dispel any negative stigma associated with those with mental health struggles.
With young celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Will Poulter, Pete Davidson, and now Frances publicly speaking about mental health and raising awareness, hopefully this signals a positive change towards how people view the issue.
Kurt is undeniably a once-in-a-lifetime musical talent but as Frances points out, he is also something of a reminder that people don’t need to be afraid when it comes to taking care of themselves.
If you need to talk to someone, you can call Lifeline on 131114.