On Monday (18), Lily Cornell Silver, daughter of late Soundgarden/Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell and manager Susan Silver, announced the launch of a new Instagram mental health discussion series inspired by her father. Mind Wide Open will find Silver interviewing experts in the field in an attempt to “normalize the open discussion of mental health.”
“I want to take the opportunity today to announce that I am launching a mental health focused interview series on Instagram: Mind Wide Open,” writes Silver in an Instagram post announcing the series. “Guests will include mental health professionals, public figures, peers, and others who will share their stories and struggles, as well as provide knowledge and insight.”
Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world and grating on people’s minds, she feels that this is an important time for such a series. Silver continues,
“Now more than ever, people are struggling with mental wellness as well as the collective trauma, stress, loss, and grief triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. As with all societal issues, this is an intersectional one. Marginalized groups so often disproportionately struggle with mental health and are denied resources. I have been privileged to receive the care that I need, but this is an uncommon experience. This pandemic highlights how few resources are widely available. I want to create a dedicated space that prioritizes mental and emotional balance and allows for candid, unapologetic discussions.”
The announcement came on the third anniversary of Cornell’s untimely passing. She relates,
“We often talked about our experiences with anxiety and depression, and mental health was something that he struggled with throughout his life. Through him, I learned how important it is to have someone who understands your darkness, validates your experiences, and gives you comfort.”
“Losing my dad ripped a hole in my heart, and the grief and trauma that has followed comes with its own set of struggles. Through my experiences, I have become more aware of the stigma that surrounds discussing mental health and grief related issues. I want to use my platform to do what I can to create change around this stigma. I want all of us to have a safe place to open our minds and wear our hearts on our sleeves.”
Though an official launch date has not been announced, Silver did reveal that her first guest will be Trauma Stewardship Institute founder and director Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, an author and trauma expert whose books Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others (2007) and The Age of Overwhelm (2018) have helped countless people.
Silver concludes, “Please stay tuned for more information regarding date/time, how to access the interview, and future guests!”
