Listen, if you told me even a few days ago that I would be writing a blog post about My Chemical Romance for my therapy practice, I would have laughed. Yet here I am, your resident Elder Emo Therapist… finding ways to combine emo music and mental health. Seriously though, stick with me… I have a point (I promise)!
If you grew up in the early 2000s, you probably know the power of My Chemical Romance, you probably also know that aside from a reunion tour in 2022 and a few festival shows, they hadn’t put out music or been a band for nearly 10 years. Despite this, MCR has maintained a strong and dedicated fan base—one quick look at their subreddit and you’ll find a community that’s been thriving nearly non-stop for years regardless of their break up.
Finding Hope in Uncertain Times
After the events of last week—the US election. It felt like many, especially those in marginalized communities, throughout the world were not okay. As a therapist with predominantly 2SLGBTQIA+ clients, I was holding a lot of space for anger, sadness, fear and loneliness. It felt like so many had lost hope.
This is where My Chemical Romance comes in. The band posted a cryptic photo on their socials on Monday and instantly fans were flocking to their shared online spaces (reddit, socials, facebook groups). In mere seconds, this cryptic photo brought together thousands of fans to decipher what the image may mean—a new album? A tour? Just the band trolling fans (again)? In each of those theories being shared, there was one thing that stood out to me – hope.
Post after post shared messages of hope that the band was coming back, giving them something to look forward to and giving them the drive to keep fighting for what mattered. MCR has historically been a band that speaks out about the government and systems of oppression, a safe space for anyone regardless of identity.
The Importance of Community (Online and Off)
MCR isn’t the first band to pull together a community of hope, love, support… We see it with huge stars like Taylor Swift and her Swifties, Paramore, and more recently stars like Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan. However, the timing of the return of MCR definitely reminded me of the importance of community in times of uncertainty—and that sometimes “community” isn’t what you initially think.
In a 2024 study of the importance of music fandoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, O’Hagan and Lydon found that online music fandoms were an important way for people to connect and improve their sense of wellbeing. Additionally, they noted that these online fandoms fostered a deep sense of belonging and renewed individuals’ sense of identity and purpose during the uncertainty of the pandemic.
When we talk about community and connection as a protective factor in therapy, clients and therapists alike tend to default to things like family, friends, or in-person communities (local queer spaces, church, and shared hobbies). While for some, music and fandoms can very much be an in-person community for them. For others, the space where they feel safest and most in community with people that share their interests is online, and this has been the case for decades now. Yes, some online spaces can impact our mental health in a negative way, but the freedom and vastness of the online world can be an incredibly accessible and meaningful point of connection.
So, while the world may feel a bit uncertain again and it may seem like the collective “we” is not okay, you can still find hope, support, and action in community. Whether that’s your favourite emo band from the early 00’s, Taylor Swift, support groups for your chronic illness, or whatever else it is you feel connected to. Times of uncertainty can make us inherently want to disconnect, but it’s times like this that we need each other the most—especially other people that really get us.
