3 Reasons Why We Have to Keep Talking About Our Identities and Mental Health
As news of the death of another young rapper, Pop Smoke, swept the internet in late February, social media platforms were abuzz of speculations of his mysterious murder. While much of the information alleges a pointed attack, the news highlights an ever-growing epidemic of young artists deaths. The death of young stars is a tale as old as time but, in an information-driven age, how do we digest the passing of xxxTentacion, Mac Miller, Juice Wrld, Pop Smoke, and many others; what do they suggest about our relationship with our identities and mental health?
From overdoses to targeted murders, the death of young rappers reminds us that the journey to wealth and success does not allow for a full escape from our socio-economic backgrounds and health histories. As we bop our heads to melodic beats and repetitious lyrics, we seldom focus in on the trauma stories and post-traumatic aftermath of troubled upbringings, poor relationship building, self-medication, and toxic coping mechanisms. Above all, we discuss even less about overcoming a lack of financial knowledge and what to expect from our communities when we begin to evolve from our foundational selves.
What coping mechanisms exist for young adults who achieve early financial success? Who identifies the mental health struggles of the 18-24-year-old who is seemingly at the top of their game? These questions not only apply to young rappers, they also apply to young entrepreneurs, college students in honors programs or ivy leagues, and first-generation hopefuls in every community. While some of these resources exist on college campuses, these areas are still siloed in many spaces. The creation of these spaces continues to lack visibility and accessibility for young adults within and outside of traditional educational walls. Here are 3 Reasons Why We Have to Keep Talking About Our Identities and Mental Health:
The Company You Keep Can Kill You- for most of us, the graduating from high school, starting new chapters in colleges or businesses, or taking a gap-year, is the catalyst for changes in our social circle. Coupling early financial success, or even the pursuit thereof, and the impacts of jealously and desperation within our communities is a reality that everyone needs to be aware of. When every moment is sharable, we need to continue to talk about prioritizing our growth and building discernment with the people we allow into our immediate network.
When You Can’t Buy a Cure…- self-medication is a common practice for many of us, particularly those of us with undiagnosed (or at times, diagnosed) mental health struggles. Having easy access to drugs and alcohol and even the allure of social media clout in sharing lit experiences can be enough of a driving force to fuel unhealthy behaviors. We need to keep talking about mental health in hopes of creating more information that provides better methods of depression and anxiety management.
Dealing with Loss- whether you are racking up views on social media or pursuing a 4.0 GPA, it can be challenging to ignore anxieties and fears surrounding losing everything you have worked for or missing out on opportunities. We need to continue to talk about how our identities impact our relationship with success and value-making. We also need tools for how we can manage setbacks and disappointments in the pursuit of our best lives.
