Chris Cornell‘s daughter Lily Cornell Silver has launched a new IGTV series, “Mind Wide Open”, which aims to “help destigmatize the conversation around mental health,” according to a press release. 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.
The series premiered this past Monday, July 20 and featured Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky, a trauma expert/ author and founder and director of the Trauma Stewardship Institute. You can now watch the episode below.
Says Lily Cornell Silver: “My goal for this project is simple: to help normalize the open discussion of mental health. 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.
“I am launching [the series] in honor of my dad, who passed away three years ago. 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.
Thank you for all of your love and support, today and every day.”
Chris Cornell was found hanged in his room at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel in May 2017, following a SOUNDGARDEN show at the city’s Fox Theatre. His body was found soon after he had spoken with a “slurred” voice to his wife, Vicky Cornell, by phone. The death was ruled a suicide.
But his family has questioned the medical examiner’s ruling, saying that he had a prescription for Ativan and that a higher than recommended dosage may have caused him to experience suicidal thoughts.
