Lil Nas X Awarded for Raising Mental Health Awareness
Lil Nas X was earned an award for his efforts in raising mental health and suicide prevention awareness. The Industry Baby singer, 22, was awarded by The Trevor Project which is a nonprofit profit organization that focuses on LGBTQ mental health. During a press release, Lil Nas X shared about using his platform to raise awareness.
“I often get messages from fans telling me about their struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, and it made me realize that this was something bigger than myself. If using my voice and expressing myself in my music can help even one kid out there who feels alone, then it was all worth it.”
lil nas x has 36 million followers on TikTok, Insta, and Twitter alone.
— Kevin Wong 🚀 (@kwprime) September 1, 2021
did you know 1.8+ million LGBTQ young ppl srsly consider suicide each yr *just* in the US?
when he posts about his mental health, he’s normalizing conversations that can *literally* save a life.
Binge listening Sun Goes Down again. Seriously I believe that this song could save lives, spreading a message of being who you are and true to yourself and highlighting that mental health issues should be talked about and not hid away. @LilNasX, thank you for this underrated song
— Scoop Nas X – Montero 17/9 (@scoopnasx) August 25, 2021
Earlier this year, Lil Nas X took to TikTok to express his struggles with mental health. Throughout his life, he’s battled depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. On TikTok, he combined a series of videos of himself laughing and smiling with captions explaining his depression and anguish. The singer has endured trauma and hardships, from coming out as gay to his fans, to his mother’s battle with addiction to a breakup with a boyfriend. At the very end, the video shows him contemplating on ending his life. In addition to the TikTok videos, Lil Nas X has been using music to express his innermost thoughts and feelings.
According to The Trevor Project, 42% of LGBTQ youth have attempted taking their own life about half of them were transgender and nonbinary. In a 2021 survey, 80% of LGBTQ youth reported that celebrities help them accept their sexuality and gender identity.
Mental health is critical issue for LGBT community. Open and honest talk can save lives. Thanks @LilNasX Never forget that queer people have value. #LGBTMentalHealthhttps://t.co/H7c9TRnmA7
— MPact (@mpactglobal) September 1, 2021
During an interview, the CEO and executive director of The Trevor Project, Amit Paley expressed how the singer’s dedication to mental health and suicide prevention has been “profound” and explained why he gave the award to the young artist.
“He has done it in a way that has resonated and impacted communities where these conversations are often taboo, but where they are so needed,” Paley stated. “The fact that he has been so open, so vulnerable about his mental health journey, his thoughts of suicide, he is really helping to destigmatize conversations that are too often shrouded in shame.”
Paley added that “It’s particularly inspiring to see someone who is Black and LGBTQ and proud and unapologetic. And to see someone talk about their experiences with depression and anxiety and suicidal ideation and to talk about those as part of their art and part of their platform to make other people comfortable talking about the challenges that they are going through.”
If you or somebody you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, contact the 24/7 Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386.
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