Media and entertainment company Entercom has announced that on Sunday, September 8 they’ll team up with some of music and entertainments biggest names for a two-hour live commercial-free broadcast to raise awareness around mental health. The date of the event coincides with National Suicide Prevention Week. The broadcast is a part of the company’s year-long campaign called “I’m Listening” and you can find more information on its website.
Entercom is one of the two biggest radio companies in the United States and over 235 stations will broadcast the event. The performers during the event include pop-punk band Blink-182, nu-metal stars Disturbed, Halsey, Lizzo, country musician Michael Ray, Tegan and Sara, singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes. Also participating are NFL players Solomon Thomas and Chris Hubbard and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christine Moutier from The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). BJ Shea, who is an on-air personality for 99.9 KISW (KISW-FM) in Seattle, will host the event.
“Thanks to Entercom for creating a space to talk about mental health and suicide prevention,” said Christine Moutier, Chief Medical Officer, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Mental health conditions affect one in five people and we all experience challenges to our mental health. It’s time that we put as much attention on mental health as we do physical health. It’s my hope that by sharing real stories of hope, healing and recovery through ‘I’m Listening,’ we can help others feel empowered to share more authentically and support one another in opening up, reaching out for help and getting to treatment, if needed.”
The broadcast will include stories from the celebrity guests and interviews with medical experts. It will also feature discussion on how to talk about mental health and suicide with loved ones how to help prevent suicide.