100 Indie Mental Health Songs to Promote Healing and Offer Support
Dani Saliani here. This post will be different than most but it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long while. Music has personally gotten me through intense challenges in life. Ever since Daniel Powter gave me permission in 2005, when I’m having a bad day, to “sing a sad song just to turn it around,” I’ve often done just that. I know many of us feel music in that way. My favorite “genre” is upbeat, pop/punk-ish songs with sad yet relatable lyrics.
For me, this type of music has helped with recognizing I’m not alone in my struggles, which is therapeutic in so many ways and a goal in my work as a therapist. I’m not opposed to self-disclosure, but it has to make sense and have context, so I’m not sharing my Spotify playlists in session. But what if I did, just once, for all of you? Some of these songs have been on my radar for over a decade. They are truly a piece of my heart that I can be wary of sharing. This is not my whole playlist but I’ve compiled 100 (at the time of writing) specific mental health related listens and broke them down into some potentially relatable categories.
A few disclaimers:
As the playlist title states, this is Punk, Folk, Indie esque music. That’s just my taste in music. I know that all genres have themes like these and this may not be your style.
There are a lot of lesser known artists in here, so if you and I have a similar taste in music, maybe you can discover something new that connects with you.
Many of these songs have explicit language and themes (like in some of the categories below). I did a single run (I’m not Santa) at my best placement for categories, but it is far from perfect.
I apologize in advance for the lack of female artists on this list. I noted them and could count them on one hand. That was humbling.
These are all “upbeat” rhythmic songs most of which with incredibly sad lyrics. If that will bring you down rather than make you feel heard, please do not engage with these songs. Listen with caution, know yourself and your limits, and seek professional help as needed.
The playlist can be found here, but did lose a few songs in the transfer, noted at the bottom:
First, a couple of specific shout out songs:
For all men who feel like they can’t get past a mistake they made, I recommend It’s Alright- Mother Mother. I found it to be a healing song that I resonated with, as well. It’s not exclusive to men, but it made me think of many men I’ve worked with and know.
For young people hung up on relationships or situationships with boys, I recommend Don’t Wait for Him- Side Saddle for similar reasons. It’s healing and something I believe is important to hear. The one on the Soundcloud playlist is a cover. The original can be found on most other music streaming platforms.
Self Esteem, Loneliness and Relationships
Human Being- Chris Farren
Clear the Air- Off With Their Heads
Everybody’s Lonely- Jukebox the Ghost
Constant Headache- Joyce Manor
Buttons- The Weeks
everyone blooms- The Front Bottoms
Art School Wannabe- Sorority Noise
I Miss Having Sex But At Least I Don’t Want to Die Anymore- Waterparks
Little Nightmares- Brian Fallon
Don’t Overdose and Drive- Happy.
Holiday- The Get Up Kids
Self Portrait- Handguns
Bullet- Steel Train
The Mistake- AM Taxi (trigger warning- indirect references to forms of suicide)
Nausea- Jeff Rosenstock
Love’s a Liability- Otherkin
Graves- The Color and Sound
Love Myself- Olivia O’Brien (finally a female artist!)
Could Have Been Me- The Struts
Haven’t Been Doing So Well- Frank Turner
It’s Okay Not to Be Okay- Little Hurt
SAD (Clap Your Hands)- Young Rising Sons
Hercules- Fly Away Hero
Rot- DBMK
Them Dirty Bones- Mike Waters
I Just Don’t Care That Much- Matt Maeson
Re-Do- Modern Baseball
Little Lion Man- Tonight Alive (female lead singer!)
Strangers On The Train- Somos
New Religion (Acoustic)- The Heydaze
Find My Own Way- Arrested Youth, Mark Hoppus
Miss Connection- The Keystones
Cheap Beer and Nicotine- littleDEATH
I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore- The Menzingers
Alone Sometimes- The Mowgli’s
so am i.-- Super Whatevr
Frustrations Around Life Transitions/State of World
Cold Raviolis- Graduating Life
Everything is Alright- Motion City Soundtrack
Alternative Radio- Spose
Alaska- Little Hurt
Where Did All the Love Go?- Kasabian
everyone blooms- The Front Bottoms
The Great Depression- Dave Hause (references 80s kids and Christianity)
Running with the Wolves- Cloud Cult
Away- Trapdoor Social
I’m Not Crying. You’re Not Crying, Are You?- Dear and the Headlights
Post Party Depression- Night Gaunts
Where the Waves are Highest- Common Rider
Therapy- Cold Wrecks (specific mentions to mid-late 20yos)
This Will Be Our Year- OK Go
Numb Little Bug- Em Beihold (female artist!)
Just Existing- daysormay
Growing Up- Cinders
Ghost of Mariano’s (strong hints of depression)
Thanks, I Hate It- Catapults
New Confessional- Max Frost
*Equip Sunglasses*- Hot Mulligan
Spaceship- Art Sorority
Basement- Mute Choir
Candy Coated Lie$- Hot Milk (female lead singer!)
Kids and Heros- The Bouncing Souls
Would You Be Impressed?- Streetlight Manifesto
Feeling Misunderstood
Break a Leg Kid- World War Me
So Much Love to Give- The Glorious Sons
The Underdog- Spoon
The Faster The Treadmill- I Fight Dragons
Weak- AJR
On Your Own- The Maze
Hero- Weezer
Whisper- The Dear Hunter
Figure Me Out- The Summer Set
Comeback Kid- New Politics
Motorcycle, No Motor?- Free Throw
Golden- Farewell Fighter (a little sadder tone, but positive message)
Climbers- Mansions
Good As It Gets- Little Hurt
Over My Head- Sum 41
Feeling “Crazy”
Doctor- Truslow
Where is my Mind?- The Pixies
Falling Faster- Dylan Espeseth
Not OK!- Chaz Cardigan
Panic Automatic- Pink Elephants
Over My Head- Judah & the Lion
Diet Soda Society- The Maine
I Wanna Get Better- Bleachers (suicidal ideation)
we made it.- david hugo (overcoming suicidal ideation)
Adderall- Max Frost
Alcoholism and Drug Use
Recovery- Frank Turner
Bleach (On the Rocks)- John Harvie (also heavy suicidal ideation)
So Much Love to Give- The Glorious Sons (deserves more than one category)
Artificial Confidence- Direct Hit!
Don’t Overdose and Drive- Happy.
London Drugs- The Menzingers
dwell on the guilt of saving myself- Super Whatevr
Honorable Mentions and Conclusion
I had to list these as honorable mentions because they didn’t make it in the transfer between Spotify and Soundcloud and blogs are best compatible with Soundcloud. Feel free to look up on preferred music streaming service. Also, CHEWIE/Chewing on Tinfoil is one of my favorite bands and they can be impossible to find but are on Spotify at time of writing.
Indonesia Better Be Worth It- Hopes on Hold
Lines That Burn- Tilian
Worries- MxPx
Sons and Mothers- CHEWIE (formerly Chewing on Tinfoil)
Fuck Team Sports- CHEWIE (formerly Chewing on Tinfoil) (tw: reference to gun to head in chorus)
I Rarely Relate- CHEWIE (formerly Chewing on Tinfoil)
In a later post, I’d like to get into the psychology of why songs like these can be so impactful. But in the meantime, I hope you found something that resonated with you. If you’d like to make an appointment with one of our clinicians, you can check out our bios here or make an appointment below. We look forward to working with you.
