‘Sound of Mind’ music festival to focus on mental health awareness

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – A local nonprofit, Quest, is raising awareness about better mental health through a music festival happening Thursday night at The Refinery.

The ‘Sound of Mind’ festival will feature five bands, and attendees will hear students involved with ‘Quest on Campus’ live on stage. The event runs from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m., and tickets cost $25 for students, $65 for general admission, and $175 for VIP.

Quest on Campus started in 2023 at the College of Charleston with just two students and a faculty advisor. It has since grown to a team of seven student leaders and more than 50 active members who are all on a mission to strengthen the mental fitness of students and young adults.

Miles Erikson joined Quest on Campus as a College of Charleston student. He now continues working with the nonprofit as Chief of Mental Fitness.

“It’s been an incredible community for me to lean on and help me in times of need and help me grow. I think that it reminded me that I think in society we’re told how different we all are, and it kind of reminded me how similar we all are as well and the similar feelings and the struggles that we have are a way for us to connect,” Eriksen said.

The local nonprofit offers young adults a peer-supported community through recreational and educational events as well as community awareness campaigns.

Shirley says the music festival is more than just a concert, the event serves as a space to reflect and celebrate the power of music and importance of caring for members of the community.

“I think when you think about mental health care or getting help for mental health, we often thing of it in like a very individual sense or just like a solo kind of treat the individual, treat the systems, but really like pulling together people’s stories and people as just people, getting them together to share any experience is a powerful approach. I think it makes it a little less intimidating, but it’s also cool just to see students be the leaders of something like this on campus,” said Shirley.

The nonprofit is hoping to expand its services to its next campus at the University of South Carolina this fall.