Megan Thee Stallion launches mental health website

Megan Thee Stallion Website Provides mental health resources

Following the release of his new album, Traumazine, Megan Thee Stallion announced her new mental health website, Bad B*****s have bad days too. The title, catchy in its own right, comes from the chorus of “Anxiety,” a catchy track about the frustration of living with mental illness.

In an interview with Apple Music, the artist opened up about how writing this album was the first time she allowed herself to be vulnerable during the creative process. “Usually when I write songs, I can be sad and write a song like ‘Body’.” Chuckling, Stallion continued, “I don’t write songs about how I feel, I write songs about how I want feel.” She explains that writing the songs about Traumazine it was the first time she had discovered how to actually say what she wanted; she found space to let her guard down and express her authenticity, “I wanted to take control of my narrative, take control of my own story, tell it my way…tell it for me.”

Celebrities talk about mental health

Megan Thee Stallion isn’t the first celebrity to be open about her experiences with mental health. About a month ago, Jonah Hill said he would no longer attend any media events to preserve his mental well-being. From actors to athletes, more and more stars are advocating for mental wellness and general destigmatization. Some, like Stallion, are taking matters into their own hands and creating general websites, apps, or forums where people can both come together as a community and get helpful information on how to maintain a healthy mind.

Bad B*****s have bad days too compiles various mental health resources, many of which address the particularly unique struggles of specific groups like the LGBTQ community or Black women. On average, people of color are 28-60% less likely to receive treatment than their white counterparts. Featuring organizations such as Therapy for Black Girls, Black Emotional & Mental Health Collective, Stronghearts Native Helpline and many more, Stallion’s website is particularly helpful in providing information to fans and listeners from all walks of life, but especially to those historically underserved.

Stars with mental health platforms

Selena Gomez, Mandy Teefy and Daniella Pierson Wondermind

First announced in late 2021, Wondermind is a startup founded by mother-daughter duo Selena Gomez and Mandy Teefy and entrepreneur Daniella Pierson. The basic idea of ​​the project is to help people practice mental fitness, emphasizing that like all other muscles in the human body, time is needed to strengthen the mind. In an effort to please “everyone with feelings” (as opposed to just those with mental illness), Pierson told Forbes in an email that their goal in Wondermindwas to create “a sexier, more entertaining competitor for psychology todayWebMD, etc. for the millions of people who research mental health daily. Wondermind provides resources such as journal prompts, true stories, articles on everything from “reasons to try therapy” to various life hacks for different conditions, as well as an option to sign up for their newsletter.

Taraji P. Henson’s Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation

Established in memory of and named after his father, Taraji P. Henson’s Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF) aims to “[eradicate] stigma around mental health issues in the African American community. In the spring of last year, BLHF launched an awareness campaign called The Unspoken Curriculum which aimed to highlight how black students experience mental health issues in schools. Henson also co-hosts a Facebook Watch Original show with her best friend, Tracie Jade, which explores black people’s experiences with mental health. Through personal stories, Peace of mind aims to “bring mental health out of the shadows” and make transparent the disparity in overall mental well-being experienced in the black community.

J Balvin’s app, OYE

Around the same time Megan Thee Stallion announced her new website, Colombian reggaeton artist J Balvin launched OYE, a bilingual app intended to provide a space for people to channel their mental struggles into creativity. Translate “listen” OYE can easily be switched between Spanish and English and offers tools such as emotional check-ups, creative wellness videos and exercises, a personal goal setting tool, and more. In a statement shared with TODAY, Balvin says he created OYE “to bring a deeper understanding of the healing powers of these creative wellness practices to the global community – for Spanish and English speaking audiences around the world.”

Is celeb openness about mental health actually helping their fans?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1 billion people worldwide live with a mental health disorder. In the United States alone, figures show that one in five adults suffers from mental illness. Thanks to social media and the widespread accessibility of the internet, it’s possible to wonder if/how celebrity involvement could make a difference for their followers. Clinical Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver, Dr. Breigh Jones-Coplin told CNN Celebrities:

They have a scope that many mental health professionals in the field obviously don’t. Of course, it comes with a lot of pros and cons. Having influence is one (pro), but also making sure you use that power for good in order to get accurate and useful information across. People just don’t know where to start… that’s what makes these platforms so useful.

For many people, it can feel overwhelming or uncomfortable to talk about their feelings, especially given the different cultures and often lack of acceptance or understanding of the validity of mental wellness. Yale University Psychiatry Resident Dr. Amanda J. Calhoun said, “As a black woman, I represent less than 2% of psychiatrists (in the United States). There’s a lot of power in having a mental health professional who looks like you. [A]As black women and as a psychiatrist, I also spend a lot of time educating myself on things that aren’t taught in my standard psychiatric training.

Overall, the general consensus is positive; stars using their voice and platform to spread awareness and resources are showing their fans that mental wellbeing is just as important as physical health. However, like any other widely available information, these websites and platforms are not intended to serve as the sole means of achieving mental health.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, get professional help

As mental health slowly becomes less stigmatized and people – stars and laypeople – continue to share their experiences, it’s important to remember not to self-diagnose or seek treatment/medication without the help of others. ‘a professional. Resources like Bad B*****s have bad days too, Wondermind, OYE, and BLFH help us feel more connected and less alone, but should not be used to determine the state of your mental health. If you or someone you love is struggling with mental illness, help is available. Contact a therapist and start your wellness journey today.