Marshmello and Demi Lovato Address Mental Health in “OK Not To Be OK”

American DJ Marshmello and vocal powerhouse Demi Lovato have finally released their long-awaited collab, “OK Not To Be OK”, an anthem combatting the mental health stigma. The pop stars teamed up with the non-profit Hope For The Day to release the single and accompanying music video on this year’s Global Suicide Prevention Day. The music video introduces us to the younger versions of Demi Lovato and Marshmello, along with the growing pains they endured. In a tender moment, the children reunite with their current selves in celebration as they dance under a colorful sky, a visual not normally associated with topics like suicide and depression. While most music under that umbrella has a more somber sound, “OK Not To Be OK” is an upbeat tune with an encouraging message to embrace these struggles, because everyone has them. With suicide being the world’s second leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds, there’s a desperate need for a societal conversation regarding mental health. As Marshmello stated on Instagram, “the first step to breaking that silence is dispelling stigmas of fear, judgement, and shame about our internal experiences.” By teaming with one of the most renowned vocalists of this generation, millions of people are hearing this message of hope, and the conversation is continuing to spread.