Have you listened to any good music lately, Charleston? Let us rephrase that. Can you think of the last time you put on a record, scanned the radio, or pulled up a certain artist on Spotify or YouTube, and everything just felt better?

Research backs up the idea that music can, indeed, make us feel better — which is a welcome reminder with the winter months approaching. As the days get shorter and the holiday season looms, many of us will encounter some degree of sadness, loneliness, and anxiety. The holiday blues are real, and so are the mental health benefits of music.

Enter: Roper St. Francis Healthcare's Music for the Mind initiative, designed to call attention to the benefits of music on our mental health and raise awareness of local mental health resources.

Research shows that music can lower blood pressure, heart rate, and even stress hormones in the body. Have you heard of music therapy? Listening to music, playing music, and writing lyrics can tangibly help those who may be struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.

In case you missed it, Roper St. Francis became the presenting partner of the Roper St. Francis Healthcare Concert Series at Credit One Stadium in 2022, celebrating the positive impact music has on the Charleston community. The 2023 installment had a star-studded lineup, from Dave Matthews Band to Tyler Childers and more — and while it concludes this Saturday, Oct. 28 with Luke Bryan, its message can play on through the winter months.

Music has the power to build community, and it can remind us that we are not alone.

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