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Nairn singer Katie Munro’s first single aims to break mental health stigma whilst supporting Highland charity Mikeysline





A Nairn singer is using the power of music to tackle the stigma around mental health and raise funds for a local charity.

Singer Katie Munro has written her first song talking about her mental health struggles to encourage more people to open up and reach out for support.
Singer Katie Munro has written her first song talking about her mental health struggles to encourage more people to open up and reach out for support.

Ness Factor 2023 finalist Katie Munro, who has continued pursuing her music dreams after the competition, has released a new single - titled I Will Heal - sharing her past traumas and challenges in the hope of encouraging people struggling with mental health to reach out.

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Performing under the name KT Lou, Katie said she has found a new coping mechanism in writing music.

She said: ”The song was written about my past traumas, from losing my mum during lockdown due to breast cancer; my dad who died of heart failure four years later, and a marriage breakdown after almost 20 years together.

“Childhood and close friends passing out of the blue, as well as witnessing mental health causing many friends and their family members to sadly take their own lives...”

She said that going through these difficult times was even harder due to the huge stigma still surrounding mental health and the lack of vital support “to help people who are battling their demons”.

“I am still waiting for bereavement counselling after losing my mum back in 2020,” she explained.

She said talking about her personal experience on a podcast she recorded in 2022 was an important step in her healing process.

“It gave me real strength to talk about every little bit in detail and say how I felt.

“After it was completed, I shared this with some of my closest friends, and I found that having their support, and having them listening to how I was feeling helped me massively.”

Singing was also an important part of Katie’s life - and she decided to take a leap and go beyond the covers she was mainly performing.

“I really wanted to do my own original work, from the words to how it sounds,” she said.

“I found that writing music has become my new coping mechanism. Just writing what I think and feel.”

With around 20 songs in the making, Katie released I Will Heal earlier this month while launching a fundraiser to support mental health charity Mikeysline.

She said: “I wanted to encourage others, whoever or wherever they may be.

“If you are struggling, please reach out, find the support that works for you - but I do encourage to look into the support offered by Mikeysline.

“Remember it takes time. You will have good days and bad days, but remember with the right support, talking to friends and loved ones - you will heal. “

Katie’s song can be listened on YouTube and you can donate to her cause at gofund.me/f695c845.


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