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It’s important to remember that the holidays aren’t so happy for everyone and that self-care is super important among the hustle and bustle of it all. One celebrity who is admittedly taking it down for a few to take care of his well-being and peace of mind is “Location” singer, Khalid. The 19-year-old recently took to his Twitter account to share with fans that he hasn’t been feeling the best lately and has been battling anxiety after briefly tweeting in general about the importance of maintaining mental health:
He implied that he’d be taking a break from social media, but before his exit the “American Teen” artist took the time to let fans know that if anyone struggles with mental illness, it does get better.
Fans were incredibly supportive and let Khalid know how much his music had made a difference in their lives despite the negativity that can be so easily communicated through social media:
https://twitter.com/TSNMIEMILY/status/941841589948833792
It’s no secret that Khalid is committed to not just addressing his own health, but his fans’ health as well. Earlier this year, he teamed up with Alessia Cara and Logic to send an important message about suicide prevention. It’s also important to note that despite “Location” peaking at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and going platinum, Khalid is still a young man adjusting to life, fame and success. He’s also not alone when it comes to young black men who have recently opened up about their struggles with mental health. Kid Cudi, August Alsina and NFL player Brandon Marshall are all celebrities who have been very open about their struggles with mental health.
It’s yet another reminder that the stigma that is often placed on mental illness in the African-American community of being weak, imaginary or unspoken is being shattered one honest moment at a time. According to the US HHS Office of Minority Health, adult Black/African Americans are 20 percent more likely to report serious psychological distress than white adults. They’re also more likely to have feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness than their white counterparts. And while Black/African Americans are less likely than white people to die from suicide as teenagers, Black/African American teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide than white teenagers (8.3% vs. 6.2%).
We hope that Khalid takes the time he needs to practice self-care so he can continue to spread peace and love through his amazing music. In the meantime, you can check out his incredible video for “Saved” below:
