In conjunction with World Mental Health Day on Sunday, 6lack released a PSA to announce his partnership with local organization Mental Health America of Los Angeles and global therapy service BetterHelp. The Grammy-nominated singer-rapper hopes to utilize his platform and personal experiences to further inform BIPOC communities about mental health resources, as well as advocate for fundamental changes within the entertainment industry.
“The past few years have been especially tough for black people, specifically when it comes to mental health,” he told Billboard. “I’m lucky enough to have access to mental health resources, and a support system of friends and family, but recognize that not everyone is that fortunate. I wanted to do my part to help create a support system for others to start their mental health journey.”
Additionally, 6lack and BetterHelp will be donating six months worth of therapy to 50 BIPOC students in MHALA’s Transition-Age Youth Program, which helps young adults ages 18-25 with mental health needs and emotional disturbances, and who are homeless or nearly homeless, to fully integrate into the community.
Known for his vulnerable R&B ballads, the LVRN artist is also on a personal mental health journey, saying that not only is he advocating for the broader community, but also hopes that his shared experiences will encourage his music peers to seek help and set boundaries for themselves when necessary. LVRN also launched a mental health division to their label last year, providing therapeutic resources for their staff and artists.
“I’ve always done check-ins with myself to see how I feel about myself, life, and the things around me. I will say it wasn’t until recent, that I actually learned the importance of getting to the source of the things that don’t make me feel great,” said 6lack. “I want to share my experiences and talk about the resources/things that helped me, in order to spark people to do the same for themselves. Sometimes support is all you need to take the first step, so I want my first step to encourage someone else’s first step.”
6lack will also share his PSA on his 6lackbox platform, a site where he shares unreleased music and exclusive footage with his fans. Check out the announcement below.
