Healing the Mind with Technology and Music

My journey in mental health advocacy began my sophomore year of high school. I watched as my friends and classmates were overwhelmed by endless assignments, like chemistry lab reports or history presentations, and regularly stayed up after 2 a.m. Anxiety took over many of our lives. We were losing our peace of mind, our sense of who we were, and the simple joy of learning.

I wanted to help my generation manage our hectic lives and improve our well-being. I started coding a time management tool with psychology-based algorithms that helped students manage their busy schedules, presenting and distributing it to over 100 high schools.

However, I felt that more needed to be done. Many parents were not aware of the signs of mental health problems and considered them simply “normal stress.” Likewise, students were not armed with tools to assess their mental health and how to cope with challenges.

I researched online and found Mental Health America and their strategic focus on next generation prevention (Next generation). How could you tell people about MHA? detection tools and toolbox to deal with the situation?

So I turned to what had always been my outlet for stress: music. I decided to organize a benefit recital to reach out to the community and defend and empower teenagers with these tools.

As a classical pianist, he often played pieces by composers such as Debussy and Chopin, whose works are relaxing and meditative. The days before difficult exams, I would sit and play a relaxing song or learn a new relaxing piece. Working with my piano teacher, I put together a program to not only calm the mind but also tell a deeper story.

in my second fundraising concert for MHAOur program began with the famous Schumann Quintet in honor of this great composer, who suffered from bipolar disorder, and closed with Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto. After the unsuccessful debut of his first symphony, Rachmaninoff fell into a deep depression and lost the drive to compose for three years. He recovered from depression with treatment from Dr. Nicholai Dahl. Rachmaninoff composed the Piano Concerto No. 2 and dedicated it to Dr. Dahl for helping him regain confidence in composition. It is now one of the most beloved pieces of classical music. I chose this piece to convey hope to those struggling with mental health issues: recovery and renewed creativity are possible.

As I continue this journey, I am inspired to find new ways to merge my passion for music with promotion. Whether hosting events, playing relaxing music for patients, or simply being a supportive friend, I am dedicated to advocating for teen mental health. Together with MHA, I hope to foster a community where mental wellness is openly discussed and encouraged.

A note from Mental Health America:

James has raised over $10,000 for Mental Health America to date, using his incredible talent and passion to make a real difference for thousands of people. Her story reminds us of our power to turn hope into help for those struggling with mental health issues.

This season of giving, we invite you to join James in making an impact. By contributing to our year-end giving campaign, MHA can continue to provide essential toolkits of public education, research and screening, advocacy, and public policy initiatives that make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

Turn hope into help: donate here

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