Twenty One Pilots – The Benefits of Music on Mental Health

(Twenty One Pilots at the O2 Arena, London, in 2025 | Photo Credit: Chiara Suffield)

Twenty One Pilots are known mostly for their hit “Stressed Out”, though also for addressing difficult topics within their songs and creations. This two-piece band have used their own struggles with mental health as musical inspiration, which has, in turn, helped a whole generation come to terms with themselves and their struggles.

The band began as an idea in lead singer Tyler Joseph’s head, a twinkle in his eye, a way for him to use his developing depression for good. Throughout their career, Joseph has addressed his struggles with depression and how they have affected him, in turn reinforcing to his audience that if they have experienced the same and similar, they are not alone. Before concerts, Joseph paints his hands and neck with black paint, used as a metaphor for his depression controlling his voice and the words he writes. This has since become ‘tradition’ in a way –  with many fans showing up to concerts with the same black paint on their necks and hands, notably at their most recent tour, The Clancy Tour. 

This tradition is one of a few that has also seemingly brought members of the fandom (or ‘Clikkies’/ members of the ‘Clique’) closer together – sharing the black paint, along with red and yellow duct tape, amongst one another while queuing for concerts. This not only helps show the whole fandom that they are not alone in the way that they feel, but also helps Joseph himself – bringing a sense of solidarity and comfort to the whole atmosphere of Twenty One Pilots gigs. 

Joseph has also addressed his depression in other ways during his concerts and even music videos. Early on in their career, the two-piece, though specifically Joseph, would wear balaclavas during concerts. Though originally used as a way to capture their audiences, as a sort of “USP”, it also became a way for the band to appear almost faceless – something that anyone can find something in to represent them, or something they can understand. Balaclavas were used notably in their music video for ‘Guns For Hands’. 

Another representation of Joseph’s mental health comes in multiple music videos – for instance “Car Radio” or “Levitate” – where Joseph shaves his head. This was a way of showing his audience that looks are superficial, a way of defying what some might be insecure about. 

In 2011, when the band (formerly Tyler Joseph, Chris Salih and Nick Thomas) was finishing up production on their album “Regional At Best”, Salih and Thomas left the group, and Josh Dun joined. Dun has previously talked in interviews about how his anxiety almost forced him behind the drums – choosing that as an instrument so that he would always be behind something and not front and centre. Since his joining Twenty One Pilots, this has not been the case, with his drums more often than not front and centre during concerts. 

The fact that Dun has slowly become more comfortable with this is not only incredibly impressive for himself, but serves as an inspiration for aspiring musicians who may be too afraid of being the centre of attention, and for all people struggling with putting themselves out there due to their anxiety. Dun also has previously voiced his fear of singing in front of people, which was another reason why he decided to play the drums. On their most recent tour, The Clancy Tour, Dun has truly put himself out there by singing backing vocals. This leap was originally made during their MTV Unplugged appearance, initially shocking fans, though not in a negative way. Since then, Dun has even made a vocal appearance (affectionately referred to as ‘Jocals’ by Joseph and the fans) on their newest album, “Breach”, on the song “Drum Show”. 

Dun’s progression to the point where he feels completely comfortable with being the centre of attention is amazing to see from an outside perspective, but it is also very provoking for anyone who faces similar struggles.

The overall unity that the music of Twenty One Pilots brings to such a huge group of people is beyond belief, and more often than not down to the solidarity people find within their lyrics. Songs like “Truce” from their album “Vessel” include lyrics such as “Stay alive / stay alive / for me”, which people around the world have found deeply helpful in their individual times of struggle. Addressing mental health directly in their music has not only helped the band members with their mental health, but has also helped a huge population to understand that they aren’t alone in what they’re feeling, and that it won’t last forever.

Twenty One Pilots are a hugely popular band, one that personally shaped my childhood and who I am today. Their music, although divisive, is incredibly important to so many people. Their new album “Breach" came out on September 12, led by singles “The Contract” and “Drum Show”, which they will follow with an American tour and a run of festivals in late 2025 and 2026.