Music unites us in ways that we cannot always explain. Through his thoughtful, vulnerable lyrics, indie-folk singer-songwriter Noah Kahan has amassed an audience of listeners who are passionate about mental health advocacy. And through his nonprofit, The Busyhead Project, Noah is extending that community into action. As part of that effort,
Our Minds Matter’s Laura Beth Levitt (Chief Program Officer) and Nijha Young (Program Coordinator) recently tabled at Noah Kahan’s The Great Divide Tour concert at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
Kahan’s lyrics have been known to discuss mental health themes, such as his personal experiences with anxiety and depression. Named after his 2019 debut album, Busyhead, The Busyhead Project is a nonprofit organization that Kahan founded to help end the stigma around mental health and improve access to resources. Since its founding in 2023, the organization has raised over $6 million for over 170 community-based organizations around the world.
For the show in D.C., Our Minds Matter (OMM) was one of four organizations that joined the Busyhead Team’s Action Village to share resources and connect with fans as they entered the stadium before the show! We were proud to be joined by other nonprofits from the D.C. Metro Area and beyond, including:
- BEST Kids – Empowers youth who are in foster care and at-risk to build healthy and successful futures through mentoring, college and career readiness and life skills programs.
- Project Create – Promotes creative youth development through multi-disciplinary arts education, arts enrichment, and art therapy.
- HeadCount – Connects with youth at concerts, festivals, and online to make it easy to register to vote, learn about elections, and take action.
The day was filled with warm greetings and smiles — some fans traveling from as far as San Diego and Tennessee to see Kahan in concert for the first (or sometimes third or fourth!) time. We spoke to over 100 attendees, including plenty of excited teens, school staff and mental health professionals.🫂
In addition to visiting the vendor tables, attendees stopped by The Busyhead Project’s Community Wall. The wall, made instantly recognizable through previous tour dates and Kahan’s recent documentary, is a collection of fans’ handwritten notes answering reflective prompts: how they show up for themselves, what they’d say to their younger selves, and positive affirmations for those who may be struggling with their mental health. Notes are also added to a virtual wall.
A few uplifting words from National Park concertgoers:
- “I showed up for myself today by: Doing exactly what used to make me anxious.”
- “One thing I’m really proud of is: How far I’ve come.”
- “Advice I would give to my younger self is: Remember that you don’t have to earn love. You deserve it for being you.”
The wall offered participants a chance to pause and consider moments of personal growth while also leaving pieces of hope and inspiration for those who followed.
Another major cup-filler for Team OMM was running into current and former OMM students! Some concertgoers were even so kind as to exchange pins, stickers, and other small trinkets to express their gratitude.
With tens of thousands of fans in attendance, the night celebrated the many ways we can all take action. Kahan’s music and the unity it created remind us that we are never alone in the struggles we face. Even just listening to the same artist can turn strangers into friends and partners in mental health change.
Thank you to The Busyhead Project for inviting Our Minds Matter for an evening of warm weather, words and hearts.💙 We’re grateful to be in this movement with you! Follow more of The Busyhead Project’s work on Instagram @thebusyheadproject.🧠
If you or someone you know is struggling, text MIND to 741741 or call 988 for support. You are not alone.