New Kids on the Block Open Up About Mental Health and How Music Helps Them Heal

The 1990s boy band New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) certainly left its mark on music history. The band consisted of Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and even Mark Wahlberg, and is best known for its songs “You Got It,” “Please Don’t Go Girl,” “I'll Be Loving You” and “Tonight.”

And now, the band has teamed up with radio and podcast company Audacy to discuss their mental health and why they are performing at Audacy's We Can Survive concert. To learn what they have to say, keep scrolling!

New kids

Jordan Knight talks social media and mental health

During his time on the podcast, New Kids on the Block singer Jordan Knight decided to comment on why he thinks talking about mental health is slowly becoming less taboo.

“There's less stigma attached to it. With media and technology, a lot of people are getting bombarded with messages, just getting lost in their cell phones and maybe not communicating or being social enough. I think that's probably what's contributing to some of it,” the singer said. “But I do think what's good about it is that people are more open as well with social media. They're just telling their story on social media, and they're reaching out. It’s like a community. People are helping each other out. It's more like it's normal; like, just talk about it.”

Knight himself doesn't have any public special media accounts and is 54 years old.

Donnie Wahlberg shares why music is important to his mental health

Donnie Wahlberg opted instead to talk about why he thinks music — specifically New Kids on The Block’s music — is important to people’s mental health.

“When we make an album, when we write songs, we really are able to express a lot ,” Wahlberg said. “When we did our reunion in 2008, I was acting and doing a whole different career, and I was going through a lot in my life. Music really helped me get through it; it helped me express myself, vent and deal with a lot of different things.”

“We hear it all the time from our fans, too. I can't tell you how many fans have come up and said, ‘Your music was there when I was at my lowest point and that music helped get me through it.”

Walhberg also commented on Knight's statement about social media, saying, “It’s a different time now. People can share more, there are more resources, and there are more places for people to reach out. When we were kids, there was nothing and nowhere to reach out. In fact, if you said you were having mental health struggles, you'd probably be told to shut up, get on stage and deal with it. It was a different world .”

Other stars dish on mental health

Stars like Kelly Clarkson , Usher, and Dolly Parton also appeared on Audacy's “I'm Listening,” supported by the BetterHelp podcast.

Parton even opened up about how she likes to make sure she is taking care of herself and her  mental health. “I still do my meditations every day, my readings and all that. I read the Bible — I have certain things that I'll go to. I pray a lot , and I just throw it out there and expect Him to handle it."

What to know about Audacy's We Can Survive concert

Audacy's “I'm Listening”, supported by BetterHelp, is all set to host a concert to raise money for Suicide Prevention Month, which occurs every Septemer. The concert is scheduled for September 28 with artists like New Kid on the Block, Justin Timberlake and others set to perform.

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