It’s mental health month here at EnVi! Music has always been used as a way to cope with various mental health matters. In this mental health edition, we asked K-pop fans how K-pop has helped with their mental health and what they are hoping to improve on as the new year progresses. Read all about it below!
*TRIGGER WARNING*: last anonymous entry has mentions of self-deprecating thoughts, depression, and Jonghyun’s passing
Entry One: Anonymous
Who is your favorite artist/group?
NCT/Yuta.
When did you become a fan of this artist/group?
January 2021.
What made you join the fandom?
I was scrolling through my TikTok “For You Page” and saw this NCT edit. Yuta caught my attention because of his charisma when performing. So I decided to watch some of their variety shows and guesting, and also listened to their songs. After a few days of watching and listening to their songs and performances, I decided to stan this group because it would be such a waste if I did not stan this talented group of people. It also only took me two days, I guess, to memorize each member. And now I realized that stanning them was the best thing that ever happened in my life. If I were to be reborn, I’d still choose to stan them. I think it is destiny.
Have you experienced positive changes in mindset or improvement in mental health since you became a fan? In what ways has your favorite artist/group helped?
Stanning NCT helped me improve my self-esteem from being aloof to not-so-shy anymore. I learned to be happy again and not depend on other people to make things better for me. My perspective in life also changed. I have learned to appreciate everything and everyone around me. They also give me motivation to do good and be good. They’ve encouraged me to follow my dreams and not to give up on them; to just try and continue to strive for it because we’ll regret everything in the end anyway so it is better to do something than to do nothing at all 😂.
Which song(s) from your favorite artist/group is an instant mood booster?
I think my favorite song from NCT is their song “Beautiful.” It is not because it is their newly released song, but because the message it has is just immaculate. It is beautiful. <3
Do you have a habit or ritual that you carry out when you are not feeling good, and what is it?
For me, it is craving or eating my favorite food while watching movies that have good morals. Or, sometimes I just listen to songs that would make me feel better.
What is your 2022 resolution for mental health?
My 2022 resolution for mental health is to be kinder to myself and learn to love myself first. It is important that we learn to love ourselves first so that we would also be able to give love to people who are there supporting us and are staying by our side through the bad and the good times.
Entry Two: Anonymous
Who is your favorite artist/group?
NCT
When did you become a fan of this artist/group?
Around the time when NCT 127’s “Regular” was released (September 2018).
What made you join the fandom?
I have had my eyes on them since “Boss” era, and I’ve been a casual listener since NCT DREAM’s debut. It was when I found out NCT 127 was having a comeback that I decided to take the plunge and learn more!
Have you experienced positive changes in mindset or improvement in mental health since you became a fan? In what ways has your favorite artist/group helped?
NCT’s positive messages through various media (Yuta on Abnormal Summit, Renjun’s advice on his radio show, and Taeyong/Johnny’s lives for me in particular) encourage me to be a better person and push on through life. Something about the things they say and tell their fans just seems so genuine, and I can’t help but want to reflect that in my own words and actions. Besides their positive messages bringing me joy, I just have a great time watching the content they release on YouTube, and it helps that their laughter is so contagious. As Taeyong would put it, “another people happy is my happy!”
Which song(s) from your favorite artist/group is an instant mood booster?
NCT Dream’s “Hello Future.” I personally describe it as “serotonin in song form.”
Do you have a habit or ritual that you carry out when you are not feeling good, and what is it?
I like to do breathing exercises when I’m feeling overwhelmed/anxious. I also like to take naps to refresh my mind.
What is your 2022 resolution for mental health?
I’d like to work on self-love and learn to accept myself for who I am.
Entry Three: Anonymous
Who is your favorite artist/group?
NCT.
When did you become a fan of this artist/group?
March 2021.
What made you join the fandom?
I already loved “The 7th Sense” by NCT U and “Limitless” by NCT 127 when they came out, but I wasn’t really that much into K-pop then and I was confused by their concept. But I was thinking a lot about Paganini at the beginning of last year and about how aspirational it is to be able to turn a job into a craft. I was blown away when I saw “90’s Love” because everything about it was excellent. I was moved by the amount of talent I saw so I took the time to understand their concept and found out there’s so much more to them. Aside from being very talented performers, they’re also very funny in ways I never imagined K-pop idols could be. Their multilingualism also inspired me to learn Korean. Also, the team who works in the background with them is also amazing. I love the storytelling through the very well-thought-out lore (I love science fiction very much), through the songs themselves, the music videos, basically everything.
Have you experienced positive changes in mindset or improvement in mental health since you became a fan? In what ways has your favorite artist/group helped?
I’ve only recently learned that I’m autistic, which is not very common, or at least not commonly diagnosed among females, which made my experience with it extra tough. It’s very hard for me to navigate platonic relationships. So, it was very helpful and comforting for me to see the members together as friends because I get to see through a screen while in my comfort zone about what it looks like to be a good/nice friend.
Music is very therapeutic for me. Learning more about K-pop has also given me a sense of direction since I’m studying Multimedia and I have a couple of subjects related to it. It feels good to know that by cultivating this hobby, I can have fun and have some supplementary learning related to my studies.
Also, at first I was hesitant to let other people know that I love K-pop because of the stigma of being a “K-poppie.” But a friend told me that even if he doesn’t understand what I’m talking about, he’s happy that I found something I can feel happy about and that I “shouldn’t shut up about it,” and I realized that’s what real friends are like.
Which song(s) from your favorite artist/group is an instant mood booster?
My current ‘feel good’ favorites are “Candle Light,” “Know Now,” “Life Is Still Going On,” “Replay,” and “Freeze.”
Do you have a habit or ritual that you carry out when you are not feeling good, and what is it?
Listening to music, petting my cat, drinking tea, or eating something delicious and healthy.
What is your 2022 resolution for mental health?
I’m going to try doing better at managing my mental energy and taking appropriate rests in between so I can do more (because that’s what I genuinely want) without feeling burned out and miserable. Life is tough, but I need to feel happy every now and then to function so I’ll try to feel that every now and then.
Do you have any additional comments?
I love your stuff. Hopefully, I can be a pop culture writer too in the near future 🙂
Entry Four: @anti_dracula
Who is your favorite artist/group?
NCT.
When did you become a fan of this artist/group?
2016.
What made you join the fandom?
Their debut music video was released and the internet was not kind to them. I wanted to check them out for myself and really enjoyed it (I still do)—I love “Firetruck!”
Have you experienced positive changes in mindset or improvement in mental health since you became a fan? In what ways has your favorite artist/group helped?
I really love Taeyong! I love to re-watch/listen to his V-Live videos and music. His presence is really calming. It’s nice not to feel so tense for once. I’m at peace whenever I see him.
Which song(s) from your favorite artist/group is an instant mood booster?
“Move Mood Mode” – Taeyong (Unreleased)
“Long Flight” – Taeyong
“Amino Acid” – NCT 127
“0 Mile” – NCT 127
“Summer 127” – NCT 127
“Love Song” – NCT 127
“Regular” – NCT 127
“Breakfast” – NCT 127
Do you have a habit or ritual that you carry out when you are not feeling good, and what is it?
Music is always there for me!
I have a box of snacks that I save for myself as a reward after I achieve something (no matter how small the task may seem).
I like browsing online stores and compiling fashion looks that I’d want to try one day.
What is your 2022 resolution for mental health?
My brain has been fogged up for a long time, I don’t react emotionally to anything. I can’t focus on anything without getting a migraine. I want to try and have fun! I want to have something I genuinely enjoy.
Entry Five: Anonymous
Who is your favorite artist/group?
NCT.
When did you become a fan of this artist/group?
2018.
What made you join the fandom?
NCT’s song randomly popped up during my Spotify listening session while I was cleaning my dorm back in college (I was using Spotify free).
Have you experienced positive changes in mindset or improvement in mental health since you became a fan? In what ways has your favorite artist/group helped?
I love the wide range of genres in NCT’s discography and their myriad contents. They helped me cope with college, especially during the time I discovered them. During my late-night study sessions or even my thesis writing days, I’d have NCT’s songs or content (thanks NCT DAILY channel, you are missed) playing in the background.
These days since I was infected with COVID-19, I’ve been listening to the Universe album in full (since I never had the time to sit down on this one because of work; I work as a nurse). “Beautiful” really puts me at ease.
I think I’m just thankful that I’m able to consume NCT’s contents healthily. Even if I listened to their songs during a specific bad day, I can still listen to their songs again on a different day without being triggered to remember the painful memories.
Also, I would like to add that Mark Lee is my bias. I really admire how Mark would often send out words of encouragement, sometimes it feels like he’s also encouraging himself. I’m thankful that even though Mark and I are of the same age, he’s been an inspiration since 2018. I’ve always looked up to how even when he’s always busy and has to juggle different schedules, he still appears to be grateful for everything he’s doing. It changed my mindset and perspective somehow.
Which song(s) from your favorite artist/group is an instant mood booster?
“Hello Future” by NCT Dream and “Beautiful” by NCT 2021 are two of my mood booster songs these days. For some reason, back in college, since I discovered NCT randomly in 2018 (I discovered them through “The 7th Sense” in 2018!!) without knowing that there’s an ongoing project, “Without You” became a mood booster as well.
Do you have a habit or ritual that you carry out when you are not feeling good, and what is it?
Whenever I am not feeling well, I used to just sleep on it. But these days, I picked up journal writing again. I write while listening to calming music to process my feelings, before sleeping it off.
What is your 2022 resolution for mental health?
In 2022, I’d like to commit more to journal writing & devotions! I would like to make it a habit to wake up and do devotions every day and write in my journal how I feel before going to sleep.
Do you have any additional comments?
More power to EnVi!!
Entry Six: Anonymous
Who is your favorite artist/group?
SHINee and NCT.
When did you become a fan of this artist/group?
2017-SHINee, 2019-NCT.
What made you join the fandom?
For SHINee, their music is just superior and amazing. For NCT, I first loved their personalities before I appreciated their music.
Have you experienced positive changes in mindset or improvement in mental health since you became a fan? In what ways has your favorite artist/group helped?
SHINee is the very reason why I am still holding on to the very thin line that barely kept me living at that time I crossed upon them. I was suffering at that time for reasons I don’t know. I just feel like I am the worst, that I am worthless. I just woke up one day and I was already drowning, sinking down into darkness. SHINee kept me occupied, made me focus on them. What happened to Jonghyun, reading his last note, made me understand to continue living for the sake of it. I came to understand what he went through as I was experiencing it. But I took it in a positive light, I thought that he doesn’t want me to end up like him. And for him, I vowed that I will continue to go on and not to lose the fight with depression. He and SHINee are the very reason why I am still here today, breathing and living and keeping sane.
Which song(s) from your favorite artist/group is an instant mood booster?
“Winter Wonderland.”
Do you have a habit or ritual that you carry out when you are not feeling good, and what is it?
Listening to their music and writing notes to Jonghyun.
What is your 2022 resolution for mental health?
I am more focused on myself now. For seven years that I have been struggling with depression, I have finally started to heal.
Do you have any additional comments?
For those people who are suffering, please hang in there. Please don’t succumb to anything that affects us mentally, the right time will come when you can get out. I don’t believe that depression can be cured, it’s about how we manage it so please hold on tight.
Reaching Out
An important aspect of mental health is when to reach out to someone. If you or someone you know is going through depression and/or suicidal thoughts, click here for international suicide hotlines and click here for other various mental health services put together by spur.
Want more mental health-related content? Check out our tips on fostering a healthy relationship with social media here!
