That’s a wrap on Audacy’s eighth annual I’m Listening broadcast, but the wisdom and support shared will live on and be accessible to anyone at any time via the free Audacy app.

In partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), this year’s I’m Listening special featured artists, athletes, medical experts and more, highlighting why having open and honest conversations surrounding mental health is important, while also discussing healthy ways to manage daily struggles.

Radio personality and co-host of NBC’s TODAY and The Voice, Carson Daly, and Audacy’s nationally syndicated host, Katie Neal, returned to host this year's broadcast alongside psychologist, author, scientist, and founder of the mental health nonprofit, The AAKOMA Project, Dr. Alfiee “Dr. Alfiee” M. Breland-Noble, and AFSP’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christine Yu Moutier.

All four hosts guided listeners through a two-hour special which included honest conversations spanning topics of adolescent mental health, the impact of an election year, veteran and first responders, parenthood, social media, and more.

“Reaching people with authentic stories that resonate and that highlight resiliency are known to increase help-seeking, connection and save lives,” said Bob Gebbia, Chief Executive Officer, AFSP. “The ‘I’m Listening’ initiative provides an incredible platform to reach people with the message that they are not alone and that their mental health matters. We are honored to be partners with a media company like Audacy that values our expertise and our voices in shaping our culture’s narrative toward uplifting mental health and suicide prevention. We are also incredibly thankful to be beneficiaries of proceeds from the 'We Can Survive' concert, which fuels our mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.”

Beyond broadening the mental health conversation, Audacy has raised over $2 million in support of national and local organizations by collaborating with partners like AFSP on events and experiences, including the upcoming annual We Can Survive concert starring Justin Timberlake, New Kids On The Block, Tate McRae and more at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on Saturday, September 28. A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit AFSP.

Audacy's I’m Listening aims to share valuable resources for those who need to connect, heal, and share their own stories. The I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.

Everclear frontman Art Alexakis talks candidly with us about the way discussions surrounding mental health have changed in the time he has been hard at work creating songs that resonate with so many loyal listeners.

“I think mental health conversations have taken a quantum leap forward because back in the day it was just -- you didn't talk about it, you didn't talk about mental health,” Art tells us. "Speaking about your own mental health,” he says, “meant you were weak, that you were sick,” or it meant that at your essence “you were different. That you weren't as good as other people.”

“The sad thing about it is it's always been a thing,” he explains. “Every family has mental health issues; just about every person does. Instead of looking at mental health as a problem, instead of looking at it like something to keep up on, and get tune-ups, and work on it like you would your regular health -- like working out, diet… Now that people are having more conversations about it, I think it's come a long way.”

Keeping that conversation going with younger generations is the key, and it is up to us to help provide those tools for success. “I grew up in a time -- in between Baby Boomer and Gen-Z -- where there wasn't a lot of tools with the medications for mental health, and now there's so many of them,” he adds. “My youngest daughter went through some issues with that during COVID, as did a lot of kids, and I think a lot of tools that I've given her is like therapy, medication, understanding, being able to network with other people and other kids… to know that she's not alone.”

“I think that's the biggest thing,” he says of the simple fact of knowing that you’re not the only one struggling. “It's the alienation that makes people give up hope. If it wasn't for music, and my music, and me creating music, my mental health would not be anywhere near where it is now. I'm very grateful for what I do for a living and I'm in my sixties; I'm still playing guitar, in a Rock n’ Roll band.”

“My mental health is something that I have been keeping up all my life,” Art adds, “with my sobriety. I've been sober 35 years. For me, mental health and sobriety, and my higher power and my family, they're all interconnected and I think they are for most people. It just takes people a while to figure it out.”

Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.

Words by Joe Cingrana

During a recent chat with Audacy’s Mike Adam, Halsey opened up about her mental health when it comes to bullying. Sharing how she’s learned to heal those past wounds and face those challenges now, as an adult.

“You know, I think when I was younger, I felt really different than everybody else. I don't know, I just felt like, I would wonder sometimes like if I was born wrong, you know what I mean?,” Halsey shared.

Recalling “it varied,” when it came to what she got picked on for. “I moved a lot when I was a kid. So I was kind of always starting at a new school which you know, sets you off for an immediate disadvantage.”

“When I was little, it was like my appearance,” Halsey recalled, “I had glasses and like big rabbit teeth and frizzy hair… freckles. I literally got made fun… shoved into lockers and stuff… It was my appearance.”

“As I was older,” she continued, “it kind of got a little bit more personal. I came out in high school so, I was bi in high school in a town where, like… everyone was straight or closeted. So I definitely took a lot of heat for that. And I started experimenting with my appearance pretty early too, I had really short hair in high school and I started getting tattoos… and I was into weird music and weird hobbies.”

“I think that being different, people are afraid of things they don't understand. I think sometimes that fear also comes from perhaps like an internal desire to understand,” Halsey added. “When people are young and they don't know who they are, they can get really easily provoked or triggered by a person who seems like they really do know who they are. Because it makes them have to reflect on themselves, and be like, ‘gosh would I be that brave to wear that or do that?’”

“I learned that as an adult,” Halsey admitted, “so it kind of helps me, look back and heal that part of me. When it comes to coping with bullying, I always try to remind myself that other people's opinions of me, no matter how much they feel like they matter, they really, really truly don’t. And that at the end of the day, your reputation is not the same as your character.”

“If you know who you are, and you continue to grow, and be and exist in honor of that person, then the people who love you, and who respect you, and who are going to become your community like your village, they will find you because that sense of self will be loud enough for them to hear and flock to you.”

Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.

Words by Maia Kedem Interview by Mike Adam