SEVENTEEN’s Wonwoo is taking part in a new mental health initiative launched by The Jed Foundation (JED) and Mindset, a self-care and wellness platform created by media company DIVE Studios.
During AAPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, Mindset and JED will launch episodes featuring Wonwoo opening up about his personal journey and hardships as an artist.
The first episode was released on Thursday on Mindset’s YouTube channel and can also be accessed through the Mindset app.
In the opening episode, Wonwoo discusses accepting imperfection.
What I want to tell you is that there’s an obvious difference between doing your best and seeking perfection. Actually, SEVENTEEN doesn’t seek perfection. But we always do our best so that we have no regrets. What’s important is in the process, not in the result. We make many mistakes onstage too. Even though fans may say our performance was perfect, we can see the little mistakes we made on stage. When we release an album, there are many times we feel like we could have done better. But because we did our best, we don’t feel burdened. At the very least, we don’t deceive ourselves in the process. Sometimes, it helps when you put everything down and break free from the word “perfect.”
A second episode will be released on May 24, followed by the third and final episode on June 1. In the coming months, two additional collections will be launched, featuring the Korean indie rock band The Rose and an upcoming artist yet to be disclosed.
JED and DIVE’s collaboration stems from their shared commitment to initiate discussions about mental health within their target audiences — Generation Z, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth.
Statistics from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) revealed that AAPIs have the lowest rate of seeking help for mental health among all racial and ethnic groups.
Additionally, research by the National Latino and Asian American Study showed that only 8.6% of Asian Americans sought mental health services, compared to 19.2% of the general U.S. population.
Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, JED’s chief medical officer, acknowledged the significance of the partnership, stating:
This is an important partnership for us, since we know Asian Americans are among the least likely to seek help for mental health out of any racial or ethnic group. Mindset’s audience finds safety and support in music fandoms, making it a powerful tool paired with JED’s mental health expertise to both reach and assist youth where they are.
Brian Nam, CEO of Mindset, emphasized the intention behind their platform, saying, “We started Mindset with the intention of normalizing these difficult conversations and supporting our audience through community and shared experiences.”
To further facilitate the conversation, Brian and his brother, K-pop soloist Eric Nam, and JED expert Dr. Monica P. Band will be hosting the first-ever public virtual Mindset Town Hall event on May 18. Registration for the event is currently available via Eventbrite.
The virtual town hall event is an adaptation of Mindset’s recent college tour events. NextShark previously interviewed Brian about Mindset and the tour.
