Friends of Emmet Raises Suicide Awareness through Music

Submitted by Tracy Anglada on Monday, June 6, 2011 - 6:56am

What kills more people than war, more people than homicides, and more people than accidents – in fact, more people than all three of these combined? Suicide! Conversation about suicide is not only good, it’s vital. It brings the topic into public awareness and has the potential to reach out to those who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts.

One vehicle to raising awareness is popular media. Some of you may be familiar with the music of Friends of Emmet. Their song, Coming Apart, and its music video bring suicide prevention into the limelight. Friends of Emmet made a conscious decision to raise awareness and start a conversation with the clear message of asking people to reach out to others in need.

Their single, Coming Apart, tells the story of Kevin Hines, who made a suicide attempt by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Kevin survived and received the help he needed. Today he advocates for suicide awareness and prevention. The Coming Apart music video portrays a young woman troubled by suicidal thoughts and features Kevin as the young man who reaches out to her. Proceeds from this song go to support suicide awareness.


I recently had the privilege of interviewing Keith, the bass player from Friends of Emmet. He shared some insight into their work:

Tracy: When was Friends of Emmet founded and how did that happen?

Keith: Friends of Emmet’ (FOE) was formed in late 2008. Some of us had been in a band together before and others were friends.

Tracy: Why did you decide to focus your efforts on suicide prevention/awareness?

Keith: I suffer from depression. I attempted suicide and had a suicide in the family. 

Tracy: Your current single, Coming Apart, is based on the experience of Kevin Hines. How did his experience touch your band?

Keith: Kevin’s story is a story of survival by choice. It shows that it only takes a second to change your mind and no matter how bad things are there is always help out there. 

Tracy: How has your work in suicide awareness/prevention been rewarding?

Keith: We receive mail from all over the world from parents telling us that if the song and video for Coming Apart had been out there and Kevin’s story was known that their sons or daughters would probably be still with us. 

Tracy: What challenges have you faced as musicians as you focus on raising awareness?

Keith: It's been very hard to get media coverage. Mental health/suicide is not a pretty subject. What a lot of people in the media industry need to realize is that if they pictured one of their family in distress then they would be quick enough to help raise awareness, yet it's always too late when people start getting involved. Suicide is preventable, Cancer isn't.

Tracy: What advice would you give to fellow musicians about becoming involved with this type of awareness?

Keith: Very soon all bands will start featuring this subject and trying to help but it's up to us, FOE, to knock down the obstacles (stigma) that get in the way. 

Tracy: What can parents of children with bipolar disorder do to help Friends of Emmet in your efforts to raise awareness and prevent suicide?
Keith: If all parents start talking to their children about suicide and educate them, it's a start. We need as many suicide prevention organizations to get their members to purchase the track so as people have no choice to talk because it's a song and video with a story.

In September 2011, Coming Apart will be released in the USA & Canada, where proceeds will go to Suicide Prevention/S.A.V.E. & Collateral Damages. A National tour will coincide with the release.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you.

To learn more about Friends of Emmet go to: www.friendsofemmet.com

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