'Reclaiming My Time' Gospel Song Is Now A Suicide Prevention Anthem
Chirlane McCray is using music to try to dispel stigmas surrounding mental illness.
McCray, wife of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, launched a video campaign with Broadway’s Mykal Kilgore to start spreading her message on Sunday ― World Suicide Prevention Day. Kilgore was the voice behind the viral gospel video, “Reclaiming My Time,” and stars in “Motown: The Musical.”
“There’s still too many people out there with misconceptions about mental illness,” McCray says in the video. “There’s so much work to do to change the culture but there’s so little time.”
“Oh, so you’re ready to reclaim your time?” Kilgore begins to sing.
“We’re speaking to those who believe that mental health is less important than physical health,” McCray responds, as well as “those who believe mental illness is a moral weakness.”
McCray told HuffPost that Kilgore’s talent and creativity was the perfect way to send out a message that resonated with everyone, but especially at-risk teenagers.
“We want young people to know if they’re facing issues, they can talk to someone about it,” McCray said. “There are many ways to access that help.”
On this #SuicidePreventionDay, we're reclaiming time for mental health because there's always hope and there's always help. pic.twitter.com/kSTMYmo4H7
— Chirlane McCray (@NYCFirstLady) September 10, 2017
Last October, the city’s first lady launched the NYC Well Program, which allows residents to access mental health support for free. People are able to call or text for support in over 200 languages at 1-888-NYC-Well. There’s also an online chat available through the program’s website.
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in America, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Suicide rates among teenagers are a particular concern. The Centers for Disease Control reported that among boys ages 15 to 19, the suicide rate increased 31 percent between 2007 through 2015, to 14.2 per 100,000 population. For girls in that age group, the suicide rate more than doubled during that time period, to 5.1 per 100,000 population ― a 40-year high.
Such figures are why McCray said she’s taken on suicide prevention projects.
“It makes me so passionate because we’ve lost so many people, right?” McCray told HuffPost. “The number I have for young people is five a day nationwide that take their lives every day. And every one of those deaths can be prevented. Every single one.”
McCray said she would love copycats of the NYC Well program to begin popping up. It’s important, she said, that people get the help they need early on so that they don’t dwell on feelings of despair.
“It’s so important to reclaim time for mental health,” McCray says in the video.
If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HELLO to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources.
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Michelle Williams
"Well, in the meantime, I believe God-gifted people, physicians, doctors, therapists —that's your healing. Take advantage of it," she said. "Go see a professional so that they can assess you. It's OK if you're going through something. Depression is not OK, but it is OK to go get help."
Brandon Marshall
“We need to accept that mental illness is a disease — and like any other disease, it needs stronger research, early screening and treatment, especially for young people,” the athlete wrote.
Alicia Keys
“I started burying my feelings, and it got to a point where I couldn’t even tell my family or my friends, ‘I’m twisted,’ or ‘I’m exhausted,’ or ‘I’m so angry.’ … I became a master of putting up the wall so that I was unreadable,” she said.
The singer-songwriter said she had to "learn to let go" in order to get through it.
Wayne Brady
"Having a bad day is one thing, having a bad week is another, having a bad life … You don't want to move, you can't move in the darkness," Brady explained.
“It took me a while to get my stuff together to go, ‘You know what? If you’re not happy, you have to do something about it,’" the comedian added.
“Just to admit that you are feeling this way is a huge step," he said. "To claim that, to say, ‘Why do I feel dark? Why do I feel unhappy? Let me do something about this.’”
Metta World Peace
Speaking with ESPN in 2015, Peace explained: "Everybody has different issues, good or bad, that they carry with them on the court. It affects you. And for me, it affected me to where sometimes I would be overly aggressive and, in other ways, it would affect people to where they can't perform on the court."
"I was always able to perform, but sometimes I would act out and I wanted to see a sports psychologist," he continued. "Because to me, I didn't need a psychologist to get my mind right. I needed a psychologist to help me perfect what I love, and I can't perfect it when I'm on the bench or when I'm getting suspended because I'm playing upset."
Lisa Nicole Carson
Carson wrote in Essence, "I’m tackling the myth that African-American women have to be pillars of strength. We have the right to fall. We have the right not to always have our sh*t together. We just have to take our mental health as seriously as we do the physical. Do not be afraid to go to a therapist or a doctor to make sure everything is fine."
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson
On a 2015 episode of "Oprah's Master Class," Johnson said that he got through depression by realizing that he wasn't alone.
“Have faith that on the other side of your pain is something good,” he said.
DMX
“I used to be really clear on who was what and what characteristics each personality had. But I don’t know at this point. I’m not even sure there is a difference. I’m Earl when I’m with my children. I miss my children," the rapper said.
He added that, though he still struggles, God has been a big part of his healing process.
“Every day, I start my day off with a prayer, ask God to guide my steps. Cover me and keep me safe."
Janet Jackson
“I remember, even after the ‘Rhythm Nation’ tour in 1990, when I was in my early 20s, I was really bummed out," Jackson said.
"Looking back on it now, it was depression," she said. "But it hits a lot of people — and a lot of artists — and I didn't know that. Nobody ever talked about that in my family — I still haven’t talked to anybody in my family about it.”
Jennifer Lewis
"It's hard to accept that you have a problem," Lewis told NewsOne about her diagnosis.
"That's another piece of the disease – the denial," she added. "You think everyone cries themselves to sleep. You should ask yourself why am I so depressed, why am I so angry with my children, angry with my partner … why am I depressed, or over the top?"
Lewis, who currently stars on "Black-ish," says that one must practice self-love in order to overcome mental illness: "You have to look in the mirror … and say, before you can go or grow into anything, you have to say you love yourself."
Kid Cudi
"It took me a while to get to this place of commitment, but it is something I have to do for myself, my family, my best friend/daughter and all of you, my fans," Cudi wrote.
"Yesterday I checked myself into rehab for depression and suicidal urges," he continued. "I am not at peace. I haven't been since you've known me."
The post sparked an important conversation about mental health in the black community, especially among black men.
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
