Michelle Nelson wants to raise awareness about mental health issues, and she is using music to help accomplish that goal.
Nelson, a mother of three, lost her husband, Barett, to suicide in April 2016. In 2017, she was the driving force behind the first annual Barett Nelson Memorial Music Festival for Mental Health Awareness. The event was held just after the one-year anniversary of Barett’s death and raised $10,000 for the Canadian Mental Health Association — Saskatoon Branch, Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Services and the Radisson fire department and first responders.
Nelson is now organizing the second annual music festival, which will be held on May 5 in the Radisson Arena. Radisson is located about 65 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, along Highway 16.
“Our main goal initially was to raise money for local mental health programs, but I think even more importantly now we want to continue to reach people and change the way mental health is looked at,” Nelson said.
“We want everyone to feel comfortable to share their story. We want people to feel valued and know there are places to get support when you need it and that you should never feel ashamed to ask for it. We want to be able to share our story, to say how much we miss Barett, to tell stories and laugh and cry and dance in his memory.”
This year’s musical festival will include even more entertainment than last year, Nelson said, noting the event will kick off at 4 p.m. and showcase new performances every hour. The lineup features Highway 31, Reckless Ophelia, J.A.M, Shantaia, Dukes Under Fire, Ginelle James, Longshot, Lisa Moen, One Track Mind and Love N Revenge. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Youth ages 16 and under are admitted for free, but must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
As Nelson looks forward to the event, she also reflects on the first festival, noting it was “an amazing night.”
“The atmosphere in the room was unexplainable. There was so much love and understanding and support and some sadness and even joy. Everything went without a hitch: the entertainment was incredible, the speeches were touching and, between the silent auction and the festival sales, we raised and donated $10,000.”
Nelson said Barett loved music. He was “the life of the party” who always made people laugh, so “he would feel honoured to bring people together” through the festival, she said. He would also be proud of his friends and family for their hard work in making it happen, she added.
In addition to raising funds, Nelson hopes that positive social change can be made through the event.
“At first I wanted to throw the festival for those of us who were close to Barett. We were all missing him and dreading the first anniversary of his death. We wanted to do something good. We accomplished that; the feeling of handing over those cheques made us feel like we weren’t just going to let sadness and regret surround his memory, that we were able somehow, with him, to help someone,” she said.
“That night and the days leading up to it, however, I realized it is even more important than that. So many people messaged me with their own stories; so many people told their stories that night. Mental health is a bigger issue than just how it has affected my family; in one way or another it has affected everyone’s. I loved hearing from people how important and special the night was for them as well.
“I really think we can create change, even if it is only in our small corner of the world. It’s a start.”
Ultimately, Nelson believes that if people become more comfortable talking about their feelings, other families could be spared similar heartache.
“We could save a lot of people who are suffering in silence. I wish every day that I could bring Barett back, especially for our kids, but I can’t. I can, however, try to create something in his memory that could help others,” she said.
“Possibly by sharing my story and the pain that suicide has caused in my life I can bring comfort to someone else who has lost someone, or possibly it could encourage someone who needs help to seek it. I don’t really know the answer or how to make things better. I just know that I have to try and do something.”
For more information about the festival, search for Barett Nelson Memorial Music Festival for Mental Health Awareness on Facebook.