For Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s pledge to silence shame.

Today is the day for the people to “silence their shame”. Mental health is increasingly a focus of concern and action in our society. Across the country, alongside the traditional emphasis on physical health, there is a growing recognition of the importance of mental health.

Shanti Das, founder of Silence the Shame, a prominent mental health advocacy organization, has taken mental health issues to the next level by focusing on solutions for the entertainment industry and the Black community. Recently, she announced a partnership with Microsoft. Her partners are launching an app dedicated to mental health awareness, education and support.

NSSD presents an opportunity to continue the conversation about mental health and wellness and dispel the stigma associated with mental illness. This day is important for Das. She has created a safe space for celebrities to share their stories of challenges and triumphs.

“I think all companies are driven by the intention to increase productivity, sometimes by any means necessary,” said Freeman Warren, founder of Free The Vision. doing. “When we say the words ‘by any means necessary,’ it originally came from the intention of fighting for one’s life. Silence the Shame is just that. Silence the Shame is It provides space for authenticity and honesty about the fact that we are fighting to win. But in the words of Lauryn Hill, “We are right. If not, how can we win?”

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that nearly 1 in 5 adults (more than 18% of U.S. adults) experience a mental illness in a given year. Furthermore, worldwide he has more than 450 million people living with mental health problems. Efforts to expand access to mental health services, reduce stigma, and integrate mental health education into different disciplines highlight efforts to address these issues.

How it all started

Das interned at Capitol Records while in college. Even after her graduation, she took another internship at Sony Music, after which she got a job at LaFace Records. Her first tour, which skyrocketed her career within the music industry, was with Toni Braxton. From her promotion to marketing, she worked with and toured with artists including TLC until her label was sold in 2010.

From Artista to Columbia Records, this music executive rose through the ranks and helped launch the careers of many artists, including Vivian Greene.She also worked on Prince’s marketing. musicology project.

Das left her $500,000 corner office job in early 2010 after serving as vice president of marketing at Universal Motown. After she worked in one industry for about 20 years, when she started experiencing physical and mental problems, she realized it was time for her to step back. .

The moment that changed everything

While I was on a plane for vacation in 2014, my cell phone rang from a close friend who was facing serious physical health issues. Mr. Das was unable to speak to her at the time, but introduced her friend to her sister. After a 12-hour flight, her voicemail revealed that her best friend had committed suicide.

“It sent me into a downward spiral,” Das says. “I used to blame myself, but now I know not to blame myself when something like that happens. But of course, the knowledge that I now work in the mental health field It was very difficult for me, and again, I was still high functioning, but I was really torn up inside.”

The event evoked emotions from when her father committed suicide when she was a baby. In 2015, Das almost took her own life, but she just wanted her pain to go away. Her friends encouraged her to call her suicide prevention lifeline. She made an appointment with a black psychiatrist and turned her negative situation into a positive one.

Silence your shame

The more Das talked about her situation, the more she realized that the black community needed a safe space to discuss their issues. The movement began with 10 Black women and several panel discussions. She received her first grant from Jack and Jill of America, allowing her to go on a seven-city teen mental health tour.

Since then, the nonprofit has developed partnerships with Jack and Jill, the NFL Players Association, Sony Music, the College Campus Ambassador Program, and its latest collaboration with Microsoft. Silence the Shame provides interactive workshops on mental health issues to businesses.

NSSD was founded through all of this to provide a platform for others to talk about mental health. Silence the Shame is part of the Mental Health Coalition. The Mental Health Coalition is a coalition started by fashion designer Kenneth Cole to advance narratives and build healthier communities.

Celebrities including Keri Hilson, DJ Drama, NBA players Trae Young and Chloe Bailey supported Das’ efforts. Awareness today will help eliminate stigma and reduce suicide rates.

“Shanti has played a role in elevating the conversation and reducing the stigma around mental health in the music industry,” said John Platt, Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Publishing. , we have developed an achievable starting point for the well-being of songwriters, artists, employees, and the greater music community.”

Das’s advice for changing the story

• Be honest with yourself about whether you need to tell someone. Have confidence in someone who can point you in the right direction where you need professional help.
• Take the lead and make a difference. There is no need to continue suffering. Please ask for help.
• Understand your organization’s position on Mental Health Day and use its policies and procedures to better yourself.

“I stopped worrying about what the Joneses were saying and focused on the people I cared about,” Das concluded. “I focused on exercise and traveling the world. Traveling was very eye-opening for me and a way to reclaim myself from a self-care standpoint. Then I focused on helping others. ”