Each year 42,773 Americans die by suicide. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. These are alarming statistics.
Self-harm and suicidal thoughts are not taken as seriously as they should be in our society, that is until they are acted out. We do not take these urges and thoughts seriously until they become so overwhelming that someone decides they would rather leave this earth than deal with them. This needs to change.
The seriousness of suicide is an important conversation that needs to happen in our society. It is not a joke, it is not for attention, it is real. Kid Cudi may be the start of this conversation.
On October 4th, Kid Cudi released a Facebook statement announcing that he checked himself into rehab for depression and suicidal urges.
He wrote, "I am not at peace. I haven't been since you've known me. If I didn't come here, I would've done something to myself. I simply am a damaged human swimming in a pool of emotions every day of my life."
This is heartbreaking. A performer, a songwriter, an artist. Someone that so many look up to, and that so many go to to help them through tough times, has been suffering this whole time, and no one noticed.
Kid Cudi has been a famous rapper since I was in middle school, and he is someone I have listened to for almost a decade. It hurts my heart to think that he has been dealing with this internal struggle the whole time.
Songs of his that I listened to over and over like "Soundtrack 2 my Life" had lyrics like this, "I've got some issues that nobody can see and all of these emotions are pouring out of me," and I didn't even notice what they could have meant.
What is the most heartbreaking, however, is that he feels like he is letting people down by getting himself help. He wrote, "I deserve to be happy and smiling. Why not me? I guess I give so much of myself to others I forgot that I need to show myself some love too. I think I never really knew how. I'm scared, I'm sad, I feel like I let a lot of people down and again, I'm sorry. It's time I fix me. I'm nervous but ima get through this."
No one should feel like they are letting others down for trying to fix themselves, and be happy. This is a major reason why a lot of people who have suicidal thoughts do not reach out and talk about it; they are scared to look weak. They are scared to not be taken seriously, or told to "just be happy."
I personally have never experienced this, but I feel like the worst thing you could do to someone who is suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts are to not take it seriously.
Start noticing things, the details. What the people around you say, how they say it, and what words they use. You never know if someone who looks presumably happy could be suffering internally.
If you have suicidal thoughts, know that it is okay to seek help. Therapy is an amazing resource, that I know deeply. It is a way to talk out your feelings and become at peace with yourself without having to first go to your friends and family. I wish the stigma around therapy would go away, because it is something that has truly saved lives, including mine.
I pray for Kid Cudi and his journey into self-love and peace, because everyone deserves it. I applaud him for his bravery, and I hope that in doing this for himself, others realize it is OK to do the same.