From Chicago to Seattle: The rapid rise of 'Scream Club' movement

A growing movement across the United States is encouraging citizens to confront modern anxieties through collective vocal release. Known as "Scream Club", the initiative has established 17 chapters in less than a year, spanning cities from Seattle to San Juan.

Participants gather in public parks or near bodies of water to release frustrations ranging from bereavement to professional setbacks.

Amber Walcker, who leads the Seattle chapter, described a profound shift after her first session, noting, “I had such a sense of feeling grounded. In that same moment, all your senses are heightened.”

Founded in Chicago by Manny Hernandez and Elena Soboleva, the club utilises techniques rooted in 1960s primal scream therapy. Each session follows a structured protocol:

• Participants record their grievances on biodegradable paper.
• Diaphragmatic breathing and vocal warm-ups prevent physical strain.
• The group performs three consecutive collective screams.

Psychiatric experts suggest the practice facilitates a stress-regulation cycle similar to exercise. Dr Ashwini Nadkarni of Harvard Medical School explained that screaming engages the amygdala before the parasympathetic system induces a state of rest.

Soboleva emphasised the importance of preparation, stating, “You can really strain your throat if you just do it. So it’s gradual, breathing from your diaphragm and carefully starting slow and warming up to louder and louder.”

Beyond the physiological benefits, the clubs offer a vital sense of community. The sessions often conclude at sunset, symbolising a fresh start. As Walcker observed, “That third scream, you have to feel it in your body.”