Deets: In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and to help raise funds for increasingly vital mental health resources, UCLA Health and AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, are proud to announce “We Shine Together,” a virtual mental health awareness concert featuring John Legend, Black Pumas and Joy Oladokun. The free benefit concert, produced by AEG Studios, will stream live from Los Angeles for music fans around the world on Thursday, May 27 at 6:00 PM PDT/9:00 PM EDT via the “We Shine Together” website. The program will feature nearly three hours of musical performances curated exclusively for the concert while initiating a dialogue around the importance of mental health awareness and key resources available to the public during our extraordinarily challenging times.
Hosted by Zane Lowe, global music curator, acclaimed radio host and pop music’s “unofficial therapist” according to The New York Times, the virtual event will celebrate the strides being taken toward better education and access to treatment for depression and other mental health concerns, while delivering a one-of-a-kind live entertainment experience to fans from the comfort of their homes. All proceeds from contributions made during the concert will go directly toward the charitable “We Shine Together” Mental Health Support Fund, created specifically to help support and expand UCLA Health’s life-saving mental health services during a time when the Los Angeles community needs it most.
Mental Health Awareness Month is especially significant this year as the world continues to address both the psychological and emotional fallout of the global COVID-19 pandemic. According to a new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the number of adults with recent symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder increased along with the percentage of individuals reporting unmet mental health care needs. Los Angeles residents have been hard hit with additional challenges including the high cost of living, high rates of unemployment, and uncertainty surrounding the disruption of the local economy and live sports and entertainment industry. Unlike those in other parts of the country, Angelenos not only rely on the entertainment and sports industry for stress relief and enjoyment, but many also work in these industries and depend on them for their livelihoods. For more than 60 years, UCLA Health has provided the best health care to meet the needs of L.A. residents.
In addition to special musical performances by John Legend, Black Pumas and Joy Oladokun, the virtual event will offer exclusive conversations with the artists talking about their unique experiences dealing with mental health, emotional well-being and maintenance, and life in 2021 and beyond. As millions of people navigate the challenges of life amid the pandemic, viewers will be reminded that they are not alone and will gain valuable insights from UCLA Health experts on specific support services, stress management tips and more.
While the concert is free and open to the public, those tuned in will have the opportunity to donate to the “We Shine Together” Mental Health Support Fund in real-time throughout the live stream. All proceeds collected from the concert will help support UCLA Health’s mental health services for vulnerable patients across the greater Los Angeles community. Additionally, fans who choose to donate will help UCLA Health provide outpatient mental health care to patients – especially children and adolescents – who often do not have access to important care. Further, the proceeds will support the training of mental health professionals at UCLA. Building provider capacity will enable more outreach to traditionally underserved populations, and expanded mental health and wellness care will reduce the impact on emergency departments and ensure that patients who need mental health services are evaluated and treated in the safest, most effective clinical setting. The philanthropic support of this fund will help expand access to life-changing care at UCLA Health clinics and beyond.
Who You May Spot: John Legend, Black Pumas, Joy Oladokun
Hint for the Average Socialite: This free livestream will be air on May 27, at 6pm PT/9pm ET.
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