Linkin Park’s Responsibility: Supporting Mental Health Struggles in Chester’s Honor

Response to interview of Linkin Park: The Emptiness Machine, New Album & Return to Music with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe

This response to Linkin Park’s interview raises concerns about their choice of a spokesperson during Suicide Prevention Month. It questions the rejection of mental health struggles and the betrayal of Chester’s values. Suggestions include addressing fans’ mental health struggles, aligning with Chester’s legacy, educating themselves and actively supporting individuals in their healing journey, and being mindful of the impact on those with mental health issues.

Click to view interview video.

So, the answer to “How do we go on?” is to disregard and reject Chester’s battles and suffering by enlisting a #Scientologist who turns a blind eye to child abuse and holds the belief that mental health care is a scam? And, make this announcement during Suicide Prevention Month? This is a betrayal to Chester and his devoted supporters who found solace in his music during their own mental health struggles. And to cope, you shift the blame onto Chester for having “stolen it” from you?

As someone who struggles with chronic suicidal thoughts, I am fed up with those who call themselves “suicide survivors” and blame the victim and their supposed chemical imbalances for ruining YOUR lives. It is not common for someone to be born with a chemical imbalance; rather, it is often caused by external factors such as physical, chemical, and emotional stress in the environment affecting brain chemistry.

I highly doubt that Chester was born with a mental illness; his substance abuse issues likely began after he experienced childhood sexual abuse, which can significantly alter brain function, leading individuals, who do not receive the necessary support to cope with such trauma, to turn to self-medication as a means of coping with their pain, which puts additional chemical stress on the brain. This often occurs because they did not feel safe enough to ask for help or were denied assistance in some way, whether through denial, dismissal, minimizing, or gaslighting of their experiences. This reflects directly on the people in their environment.

The process of recovering from childhood complex trauma can be a lifelong journey. For those who have not experienced it, it can be difficult to comprehend that even though engaging in recovery work may help develop new neural pathways and equip individuals with coping skills, it will never erase the lasting brain damage caused by this type of trauma. To hold the belief that Chester should have “gotten over it by now” due to his age and previous rehabilitation for substance abuse is both ignorant and harmful. If this mentality is expressed verbally or through nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, or behavior, it has the potential to trigger a relapse of emotional dysregulation, leading to a desperate search for relief.

It is commonly believed that those who have experienced Childhood Complex Trauma possess distorted thought patterns. However, the truth is that they are acutely attuned to the impact of their struggles on others. The constant overthinking and rumination in their minds are actually problem-solving sessions, as they strive to find ways to improve themselves for the sake of those around them, hoping to bring comfort and happiness to those they care for.

Suicide is not a surrender. It is not a self-centered act. It does not transfer their anguish onto others as revenge, retribution, or any other motive. It is not an act of cowardice. The decision is not impulsive and is not taken lightly. It is a final resolution to an apparently unsolvable problem. Chester did not rob you of anything. He bestowed upon you the gift of freedom from witnessing his endless suffering.

As an individual who has endured relentless, lifelong torment inflicted by those who claimed to care for me, I can assure you that traditional therapies, medications, or even shock treatments cannot “fix” the repeated trauma of betrayal. It is futile to attempt to solve a problem that has its origins external to oneself by deceiving yourself through therapies that invalidate your perceptions of what you experienced and how you coped, regardless of how maladaptive the coping mechanisms may seem, as they were what kept you alive–the key word being “adaptive”. Medications may temporarily numb the pain, but they cannot erase it completely. And trying to shock away long-term memories will not rewire your brain in a healthier way.

Suicide prevention is often just a form of suicide delay. The sole hope of survival lies in the presence of compassionate individuals who thoroughly educate themselves on how to effectively support the individual and actively participate in their journey to healing, rather than simply referring them to therapists who are paid to care.

Now, you opt to send a message to Chester’s fans that either their struggles are not genuine, or remind them that the world is harsh and they are on their own to heal. This is being done by hiring a spokesperson who denies the existence of mental health struggles and labels them as a character flaw. This person also turns a blind eye to the root cause of serious mental health issues by being associated with an organization that has faced multiple accusations of child abuse, including sexual abuse. This organization blames adults and children for any traumatic experiences they may have had. And to add insult to injury, this is all happening during Suicide Prevention month, for crying out loud!

Is it really not your concern to address the mental health struggles of your fans? Mike claims to have grown up in a loving family, so he cannot fully understand the gravity of these issues. However, Chester Bennington did have personal experience and he cared deeply. He used Linkin Park as a platform to inspire and support others who have faced similar struggles. By hiring this individual, you are effectively shutting the door on Chester’s legacy. She has no legitimate claim, other than hypocrisy, to sing his songs while still supporting Scientology and its members. Your actions are not honoring your friend, but instead, they are a betrayal of his expressed core values.

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The content raises important concerns about the choice of a spokesperson and the message it sends during Suicide Prevention Month. To improve, Linkin Park should consider:

1. Addressing the mental health struggles of fans.

2. Ensuring the spokesperson aligns with Chester’s legacy and expressed values.

3. Educating yourselves and actively supporting individuals in their healing journey.

4. Being mindful of the impact of actions on those struggling with mental health issues.