SuperM Performs "Better Days" for World Mental Health Day + "Wish You Were Here" for Anniversary

[darklitplanet]

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-SuperM performed their song "Better Days" for the World Health Organization's first online global advocacy event for mental health today for World Mental Health Day

-They also performed it and fan-favorite track "Wish You Were Here" for their one-year anniversary celebration live event last week:

Comments

[off_daze]

I wonder if there have been any changes to how kpop performers have been managed since all of the high profile suicides? I am glad to see they are promoting mental health. I hope they are encouraged to get therapy and take medication where appropriate.

[byeolbyeol]

some companies offer mental health services to their artists, but not all do, sadly. it's also become a little more common for idols to open up about their mental health and when they're getting therapy, but still not ... very common. the stigma against speaking up about both is still very much present. luckily though, *some* people have been taking charge, such as shinee's jonghyun's (who's shinee / superm's taemin's (forever) groupmate) mom and older sister who're two years into running shiny foundation, and are actively trying to raise funds to build a counseling center for young artists.

[ohmylol]

I hope the SHINee members still go to therapy after what happened, sometimes I'm concerned about them and Taeyeon

[off_daze]

I am happy to hear that Jonghyun's family is doing this very necessary work. Trainees/idols go through so much and I understand with the stigma, it's hard to be open about it. I remember well how Gong Yoo was treated in an interview where he was open about his mental health struggles. I imagine as an idol, where you are expected to be perfect, it's even more difficult.

[glider]

as someone who's been following K-pop in some capacity for over ten years, companies (namely big/major ones, I cannot speak for the shady start-ups and shit is usually more wack with them in terms of human rights violations) seem to be more lenient about permitting breaks esp for mental health-related issues. I swear I can't remember ever hearing "[idol] will be taking a temporary hiatus for their mental health" in the headlines back in the second generation (roughly 2007-2013), the only absences were for physical injuries and even then there was a huge impetus to get back to work ASAP.

re: what byeolbyeol said, the only company I know for a fact that provides counseling services is JYP Entertainment and I'm not sure how long they've been doing it. I hope moving forward mental health discussion can be further destigmatized, not just in K-pop/South Korea but everywhere.

[off_daze]

Wow, JYP! I am surprised to hear that. I got into K-pop during second gen and there were so many horror stories about how the trainees were treated. I remember Rain said that he slept under JYP's desk and was so poor that he had to eat dog food. The members of Big Bang lived in a two bedroom apartment with their manager when they were 13/14 years old. The five of them slept across two mattresses on the floor. Once their manager left for a few weeks and forgot to get food for them so they just lived on a pack of cookies. I can't imagine how these kinds of experiences have impacted them. I think I even remember a story about Yunho from DBSK living in a subway for a while. I hope that gen 4 idols are spared from those kinds of experiences.

[slaygalthessily]

I think some companies do. You can usually tell when companies give a damn. I know when an anti/sasaeng attempted to harm the group A.C.E, their CEO really stepped up and wasn’t gonna back down on it and it was talked about how the members suffered from anxiety afterwards - to the point where they didn’t want to leave their dorms and I’m pretty sure the whole matter was taken with extreme care. Unlike Starship Ent and what happened with Jooheon. The boy had to collapse on a rehearsal stage and even then. He was diagnosed with anxiety and was eventually put in treatment when he had to go on hiatus last year. And I’m pretty sure SSE is dropping the ball again because one of their artists has said suicidal type things before. So it depends on the company.

Mental health is kind of a taboo thing over there still but some idols do seek help, even if their company doesn’t give it.

[off_daze]

Thank you for this. Starship has always been a mess. I feel so bad for those people who has to suffer openly just to be acknowledged. And the person who is expressing suicidal ideation!! I hope they are getting help. That is very upsetting. I am glad to hear that A.C.E. is being taken care of. Some of these antis can really be heartless. Like just don't listen if you don't like the music. I hate the rivalry aspect to the fandoms.

[slaygalthessily]

Starship is certainly a mess and I’m sure I could write an essay on all the bad stuff they’ve done to Monsta X alone - starting with not supporting Wonho but allowing their CEO to remain despite being part of an actual criminal trial (related to the produce 101 scandal). But they aren’t the ABSOLUTE worst (and I like to pretend that MX are looking out for Cravity). I heard Pledis not only allows staff to be physically abusive towards SVT members, but routinely “forgets” to credit members for songs written and produced and choreo made by members - they’re trying to make it hard for them to leave the label when their contracts are up. If it weren’t for fans making noise, they’d never get around to giving credit