Hayley Kiyoko Reveals Mental Health Struggles in Powerful New Ad: "We Need to Talk About It"
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A simple "How are you?" could spark a conversation about mental health that could, in turn, greatly help someone who's struggling. In January 2018, the Ad Council teamed up with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the Jed Foundation (JED) to create "Seize the Awkward," a campaign geared toward empowering teens and young adults to break that seemingly awkward, uncomfortable silence and actually talk about what they're going through.
This past spring, "Seize the Awkward" launched a video with Billie Eilish where she spoke about people stepping in and helping her in times of need. Now, for Suicide Prevention Month, a series of new videos have launched with singers Hayley Kiyoko and Christina Perri, rapper Aminé, and violinist Lindsey Stirling. These musicians each share a message on how reaching out has helped them personally or has aided loved ones in their lives.
The videos all have a common theme of self care, care for others, and the importance of fostering supportive relationships. An Ad Council spokesperson told POPSUGAR that the organization picked these musicians specifically due to their huge young adult fan bases. "We're hoping to reach the friends of young adults ages 16 to 24 who are struggling with mental health issues because we know young adulthood is a critical time when many people experience great stress from multiple life changes like leaving high school and moving from home to begin college or to start working. It's also a time when mental health issues frequently emerge."
That's true. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people between 10 and 24, according to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It can be hard to ask for help, so it's crucial that people look out for warning signs. These signs may include the following: a person not acting like they normally do, having loss of interest in the things they used to enjoy, talking about feelings of hopelessness, being more reckless, or isolating themselves from family and friends.
According to the AFSP, there is no single cause to suicide, but it most often occurs when someone suffering from a mental health condition experiences stressors that they can't cope with. If you or someone you know is struggling, visit "Seize the Awkward" for more information. And ahead, check out the newest video installations from this campaign featuring four talented artists who've all gone through their own battles with mental health.
In an emergency: If you or your friend needs urgent help, call 911 right away. Or even take your friend to the emergency room for assistance. If you feel it's safe, stay with your friend or find someone to stay with them until help arrives.
In a crisis: You are not alone, and help is always available. Get immediate support 24/7. Reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting SEIZE to 741741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. It's free, and everything you tell them is confidential, unless it's essential to contact emergency services to keep you or your friend safe.
How to Talk to a Friend About Mental Health — Featuring All 4 Musicians
The artists, Hayley Kiyoko, Christina Perri, Aminé, and Lindsey Stirling, all talk about the importance of reaching out even when starting the conversation may be awkward. Ahead, each one shares their own experiences.
Hayley Kiyoko on the Importance of Keeping in Touch
Back in 2016, Hayley suffered from a concussion and post-concussion syndrome. This sparked bouts of depression. She tweeted this past January, "Ever since I hit my head I deal with depression. I'm sure many of you do too. I know it sucks, but you aren't alone. Let's go through it together. Let's hold each other. Let's fight the fight. We are capable. We don't deserve to feel this way. We deserve better. WE WILL GET BETTER."
In this "Seize the Awkward" video, Hayley, 28, says she goes to her sister when she's struggling with her mental health. "I kind of got to a point where I couldn't not talk about it," she shared, noting that she struggles on a regular basis. "When you don't talk about it, you feel more isolated, you feel more alone, and I'm sure many of you go through those feelings."
Christina Perri on Keeping a Support System
Christina has been open in the past about mental health struggles that she experienced from a very young age. She told The Mighty in 2017 that her first suicidal thoughts came when she was 8 years old. She also battled anxiety, depression, and addiction.
Christina, now 33, shares in this video that she's been in and out of therapy for 25 years, which has helped her grow as a person. Having candid conversations with her friends in their group chat also helps. "We're all over America, but we check in with each other every single day," she said. "Every single time I've had a really serious issue, someone has reached out to me individually and either said, 'Me too,' or really just shown me that they were there for me."
Aminé on Discussing Mental Health
Aminé, 25, has been open in some of his music about struggling with suicidal thoughts. In particular, his song "Dr. Whoever," touches on that. In a past interview with Billboard, he revealed that talking to his mom has really helped him. "When I hear her voice, I'm very much connected with my mom and this idea of losing her would be the end of the world for me," he said. "What keeps me going or keeps me wanting to do more music is knowing that I can provide for my family, make them happy."
He says in his video for "Seize the Awkward" that people see his career as fun and think artists like him could never struggle with their mental health, but he deals with the same issues. "Taking care of yourself and making sure you don't always feel alone is kind of the most important part," he stressed. Having a friend recharges your soul, he said, and he'll call them out if they don't want to talk about something they're going through.
Lindsey Stirling on Accepting the Help of Others
In an interview with JED this year, Lindsey discussed her battle with an eating disorder in college. She admitted that she never viewed it as strange until her mom reached out, and she eventually went to therapy.
Lindsey, 32, also dealt with depression around the same time and said in this "Seize the Awkward" video that her former roommate was the one to help her through depressive thoughts. During one instance, she went into her apartment bathroom, cut her hair, and cried. Lindsey's roommate put a hat on her head and immediately took her to get ice cream. "Having a safe place where I could talk about it with someone who was close to me, who looked beyond the symptoms, meant everything to me right then," she said.