1 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: And I am Shanty Jos. 2 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 2: I'm moderating this incredible chat that we're about to have. 3 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 2: Next up, we have an extraordinary young man with a 4 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 2: great story who is doing some incredible stuff for the community. Now, 5 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 2: let's give it up for Grammy Nominator Recording Artists. 6 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 1: The Baby. 7 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 3: There, you go, make some noise. Put a seven o's 8 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 3: one head the baby in head. 9 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 2: Yes, and last, but certainly not least, we have mister 10 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 2: Elliott Connie. He is a license psycho therapist. 11 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: Give up for Elliott? All right, all right, all ready, 12 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: what's up? 13 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,400 Speaker 2: So my first question is gonna be you for you 14 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: the Baby. Yes, ma'am, thank you for joining us. 15 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 4: I appreciate you having you for being here my beautiful 16 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 4: space to be in. I appreciate y'all welcoming me with 17 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 4: open arms. I appreciate all y'all for being here today too. 18 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: That's right. 19 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 2: So can you share with us what inspired you to 20 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 2: start this mental health nonprofit in honor of your loved 21 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 2: one and what specific challenges you aim to address within 22 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 2: the black community regarding mental health and suicide. 23 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 4: First and foremost, what inspired me to embark on my 24 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 4: mental health journey and just creating this initiative and honor 25 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 4: my brother. 26 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 3: Is this being something. 27 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 4: That I need first and foremost, you know what I mean? 28 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 4: And not just me bringing other people and challenging them to, 29 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 4: you know, embark on a mental health journey. But this 30 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 4: is something I need, something my brother's kids need, my nieces, 31 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 4: my nephew. My brother left four kids behind when he 32 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 4: took his life, you know, the suicide back in twenty twenty. 33 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 4: So these resources that I'm creating and these tools that 34 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 4: I'm you know, putting in front of people, these are 35 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 4: tools that I'm using in real time. 36 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 3: I'm not just telling somebody else to go do it. 37 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,799 Speaker 4: Like even me being in this room and getting in 38 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 4: front of people like this and getting on panels like this, 39 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 4: every conversation I have it, you know, it takes me 40 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 4: a step along along the way in the journey of 41 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 4: healing myself. So I feel like it's super important not 42 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 4: just for me, but everybody else is just to feel 43 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 4: the healing in real time, and you know, see how 44 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 4: good it feels. It's something that I'm super excited to 45 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 4: just give somebody else the opportunity to do as well. 46 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: That's awesome. May I ask you what your brother's name was. 47 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 3: Is Glenn Johnson? 48 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 4: Lynn, Glenn Johnson, Lynn's ma'am. 49 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 2: Glenn, Yes, ma'am, So I honor your brother's name. Let's 50 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 2: all honor his brother right now. 51 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 3: I appreciate that and his memory. 52 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: That is so important. 53 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: So mental health and suicide are often considered taboo subjects 54 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 2: in the black community. You know, I certainly know from 55 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: firsthand experience. My father died by suicide my best friend 56 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 2: in twenty fourteen, and I came really close to taking 57 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,919 Speaker 2: my own wife twenty fifteen. So I want to ask you, Connie, 58 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: and I'm sorry Elliott, Connie and Charlemagne, what are some 59 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 2: of the key barriers you have identified that prevent open 60 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: discussions and access to mental health resources in our community. 61 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: I'll start with you, Charlemagne and all that you're doing 62 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 2: with the Mental Wealth Alliance? 63 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 3: Was it? What was the question to what are. 64 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 2: Some of the key barriers that you've seen that prevent 65 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 2: open discussions around suicide in our community? 66 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 5: Man, people don't want to be perceived as crazy. That's 67 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 5: what I always say. In order to eradicate the stigma 68 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 5: around mental health, people cannot be afraid to tell their story. 69 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 5: And I think a lot of times you know, the 70 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 5: in the black community, we don't do ourselves no favors 71 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 5: by keeping secrets. You know, I've been dealing with anxiety 72 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 5: and you know, bout the depression my whole life. But 73 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 5: it wasn't until I started, you know, having these conversations 74 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 5: about it and telling my own story that I realized 75 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 5: there were so many people that was dealing with the 76 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 5: same thing, in particular my father, right, And I tell 77 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 5: this story all the time, But it was twenty eighteen. 78 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 5: I'm home in Monkscow, South Carolina. It was the week 79 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 5: of Thanksgiving. My cousin, who was twenty five at the time, 80 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 5: he had just completed suicide. I got that term from 81 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 5: Shanty by the way, completed suicide. He had just completed 82 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 5: suicide at twenty five years old. And he used to 83 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 5: do it like a lot of work with my father 84 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 5: in the neighborhood and my father's into construction. And my 85 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 5: father called me and he had just read my second book, 86 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 5: Shook One Anxiety playing tricks on me, and my cousin 87 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 5: completed suicide. And that was the first time my father 88 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,799 Speaker 5: revealed to me that he had been going to therapy 89 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 5: two and three times a week and that he tried 90 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 5: to commit suicide. 91 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 3: You know, thirty plus years ago. 92 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 5: You know that he had been on ten to twelve 93 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 5: different medications in South Carolina for his mental health. 94 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 3: And so I remember asking my mom. 95 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 5: I said to my mom and said, Joe, you know 96 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 5: Pop was dealing with all this, And she said, I 97 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 5: thought he was playing. 98 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 3: Crazy to get a check. 99 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 5: So it's like, those are the type of things that 100 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 5: people be wanting to have conversations about, but they just 101 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 5: don't because they think people are going to think you 102 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 5: just playing crazy to get a check. 103 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 3: So we just all got to, you know, tell our stories. 104 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 2: Absolutely, you gotta be more open and vulnerable. Elliott, would 105 00:04:58,080 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 2: you like to after that? I mean, what else do you? 106 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 2: I think we can do more to open up discussions 107 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 2: and access to mental health resources in our community. 108 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 6: I think, I mean, I agree with everything Charlemagne said. 109 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 6: I think another barrier to mental health issues is pride. 110 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 6: And I think we're proud of the wrong things, and 111 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 6: sometimes pride makes us afraid of judgment. But the truth 112 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 6: is we need to learn how to be proud of 113 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,039 Speaker 6: the whole journey and the whole story, like someone like 114 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 6: Charlemagne and the God. He's an incredible person that's accomplished 115 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 6: incredible things, but when you learn that he struggled with 116 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 6: anxiety and depression, that provides context to his accomplishments. 117 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 3: So we need to learn. 118 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 6: To be proud of the entire picture instead of just 119 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 6: being proud of the positive picture. And when we can 120 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 6: do that, then we have the opportunity for true healing. 121 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 6: So to answer that question like how do we open 122 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 6: up more dialogue and more access to mental health, we 123 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 6: have to be learned to be proud of our entire selves. 124 00:05:57,960 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 3: And when we can do that, then that. 125 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 6: Opens up everything and you have the possibility to heal 126 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 6: from anything. 127 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, give it up for that. 128 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 2: I remember when my dad got by suicide when we 129 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 2: were a baby. We tried everything, We said everything rather 130 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 2: that he died from other than suicide, because we didn't 131 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 2: want to tell the whole story to your point, And 132 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 2: so only until I was an adult was I able 133 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 2: to say what had happened and be okay with it 134 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 2: and not be ashamed and embarrassed. 135 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: And so I want to go back to you the baby. 136 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 2: You know, the Mental Wealth Alliance and Charlemagne and doctor 137 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 2: Alfie aim to shed light on all these critical issues. 138 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,559 Speaker 2: Are there anything else you want to Is there anything 139 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 2: else whether you want to tell us about some of 140 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 2: the initiatives and programs that you're going to be doing 141 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 2: with the Baby Care of the Baby Cares to break 142 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 2: stigma and provide support to. 143 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 1: Those in need. 144 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 4: Yes, ma'am. So we just launched the Baby Cares about 145 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 4: two days ago. I went to speak at West Charlotte 146 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 4: High School High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, and we're 147 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 4: partnering with the Mental Health America. We actually brought a 148 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 4: chapter of it to the Carolina So that's something I'm 149 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 4: extremely proud of and you know, just having an opportunity 150 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 4: to do. 151 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,120 Speaker 3: But with that, we launched. 152 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 4: The Glenn Johnson for Mental Health Initiative and with that 153 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 4: will just be providing resources into its necessary and they 154 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 4: look and real. We're creating programs you know, right now 155 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 4: as we speak. And like I said, this is a 156 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 4: journey that I'm just now embarking on and I'm just 157 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 4: super excited to be learning as I go and as 158 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 4: I learned, teach you know what I mean, and just 159 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 4: pass the information right along. 160 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: Yes, I love that. And I run a mental health organization. 161 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 2: Sounds for shame, So we're definitely gonna be in touch 162 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 2: and hopefully. 163 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:26,119 Speaker 3: Absolutely you all. 164 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: I want to go back to you, Elliott. 165 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: You know I've seen the suicide We've seen rather suicide rates, 166 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 2: especially for black men, from twenty eighteen to twenty twenty one, increase, 167 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 2: y'all by thirty percent. 168 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: That's alarming, and that's a problem. 169 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 2: What would you say, particularly just to the black community, 170 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 2: especially our black men in the audience today, what do 171 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: we need to do truly to be able to open up? 172 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 2: I know, suicidal ideation, sometimes it could be you know, 173 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: hereditary depression could run in your family, but sometimes it's situational. 174 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 2: So give me a good message for our black men today. 175 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 6: So the first part of your question is what can 176 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 6: we do go to therapy? 177 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 3: Period? 178 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 6: The second part of your question like, what's a message 179 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 6: we can give to them? I seriously do not forget 180 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,559 Speaker 6: what I'm about to say. You are only as sick 181 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 6: as your secrets. 182 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: So y'all write that down. 183 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 6: You're only as sick as your secrets. So whatever it 184 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 6: is that is tormenting you, you got to share that. 185 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 3: You got to let that out. 186 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 6: And when you let it out, two incredible things happen. 187 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 6: And for real, y'all, don't forget this. The first thing 188 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 6: that happens is you release it. You're no longer bound 189 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 6: by it. The second thing that happens, and Charlamagne just 190 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,079 Speaker 6: spoke to it. When you speak to it, someone's gonna 191 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 6: say me too, and you no longer feel like you're 192 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:52,439 Speaker 6: alone in that journey. And I've been a practicing psychotherapist 193 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 6: for almost twenty years. I've never seen a single client 194 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 6: that was struggling with suicidal ideation or depression that did 195 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 6: not feel alone. So once we release that stuff and 196 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 6: we share it and we no longer feel we no 197 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 6: longer feel alone. Our resilience goes up when we get partnered. 198 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 6: Our resilience goes up when someone's walking the journey with us. 199 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 6: So go to therapy and never forget. You were only 200 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 6: as sick as your secrets, So anything you stop keeping 201 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 6: secret will no longer keep you sick. 202 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 2: Whoo, thank you, Elliott, And I tell people you know, 203 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 2: we got a superstar Rapper on the panel today. 204 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 1: You got to wrap through your problems. What does that mean? 205 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 2: The R is recognizing those unfamiliar thoughts and feelings. The 206 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 2: A and RAP is acknowledging it and then accepting it 207 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 2: because a lot of times we do stuff, but we 208 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 2: act like it didn't happen. So you recognize that, you 209 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 2: acknowledge it, and you accept it, and then you what's 210 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 2: the p you process through those challenges and problems with 211 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 2: a professional like Elliott. So recognize, acknowledge, accept and process. 212 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 2: All right, Maya, Well, we got about six minutes left, 213 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 2: So I do want to ask the baby, what message 214 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 2: would you like to convey to those struggling in silence 215 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 2: and even some of your reverend in the entertainment industry. 216 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 4: Like would I would go back to a couple of 217 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 4: things he just spoke on just going to therapy and 218 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 4: with you with the acronym that you just broke down, 219 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 4: like the order that you put it in recognizing and accepting, 220 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 4: and then the third one being processing, Like that's where 221 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,079 Speaker 4: I'm at, Like to this, it started with me. It 222 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 4: took me so long to just recognizing and accept it, 223 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 4: you know what I mean. I probably recognized it early on, 224 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 4: but accepting it, that's something that's the stage I just 225 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 4: got to, you know what I mean, and processing it. 226 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 4: And you know, now I'm in the room with professionals, 227 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 4: with several professionals, I've learned a lot of information just 228 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 4: being on this stage with these great people for the 229 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 4: ten minutes we've been up here, you know what I mean. 230 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 4: So things that I would encourage other artists to do 231 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 4: is to just you know, speak up, you know, seek help, 232 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,319 Speaker 4: have the conversations with people that make you uncomfortable, you 233 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 4: know what I mean. And just like you say, you know, 234 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,319 Speaker 4: you're only as sick as your secrets. Like a lot 235 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 4: of the things that I go through, I've just been 236 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 4: conditioned just as a black man period. And I'm sure 237 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 4: plenty of people out here like you as black men 238 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:02,959 Speaker 4: and women. Let's not just act like you know what 239 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 4: I mean, black men are up against the eyes or 240 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 4: you know what I mean, go through things, but we're 241 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,079 Speaker 4: conditioning to just sweep things under the rug and you 242 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 4: know what I mean, and just navigate through them however 243 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 4: we can. And it's almost like, you know, we live 244 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 4: every day, day in and day out, like in survival mode, 245 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 4: you know, and that's something it's not healthy, but you know, 246 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 4: we're strong enough to survive. So with the strength that 247 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 4: we'll have if we're having these conversations and speaking with 248 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 4: professionals and sitting down and going to therapy, you know, 249 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 4: I would encourage other artists to do that. And you know, 250 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 4: just take the first step, you know what I mean, 251 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 4: the first step in the right direction, and I'm on 252 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 4: like my third or fourth step in it already. You know, 253 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 4: it just feels amazing, feels amazing. 254 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 2: Oh and I just I just want to give you your flowers, 255 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 2: because the entertainment industry can be tough, social media can 256 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 2: be tough. 257 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: Everybody got opinions, and I just met you. I don't 258 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: know you. All I know is the accolades you've. 259 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 2: Received, and you know, different things you've done in your past. 260 00:11:55,440 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 2: But you know, loving yourself, being able to process through 261 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 2: your brother's suicide. Nobody knows what that journey has been 262 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 2: like for you. And so for you to be doing 263 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 2: what you're doing now, not only are you helping yourself 264 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 2: and your family, you're helping so many other people out here. 265 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 2: We talked about it earlier on a panel. A lot 266 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 2: of times people going through stuff they projected on others. 267 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: So I just want you, young man. 268 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:20,839 Speaker 2: I'm just say to you, keep doing what you're doing, 269 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 2: focus on you and your family and all that the 270 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 2: Baby Cares is going to do for our community. 271 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 1: That's all that matters. 272 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 2: But let's give him his flowers, y'all for what he's 273 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 2: doing with this important initiative to save lives. 274 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 3: Can I explain it on something, please, Auntie? 275 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 5: I want to ask Elliot because Elliott says, you know 276 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 5: you're only as your secrets, which I agree with, But 277 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 5: what about when you know you have to live certain 278 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 5: traumas out loud, like you know, when when things happen 279 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 5: where a family member commits to suicide and that is 280 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 5: a traumatic experience, But then you still have obligations, right 281 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 5: you still and they say, they say staying busy as 282 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,319 Speaker 5: a response to trauma. What advice would you you give 283 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 5: the people who have to have to deal with their 284 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 5: traumas out loud in the pub to. 285 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 6: Be fully, fully transparent. He was using words like acceptance, 286 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,079 Speaker 6: but I want to add a word to that, and 287 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 6: you have to practice radical acceptance. What I mean by 288 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 6: that is like when you go through something, you got 289 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 6: to deal with it publicly. That's just where you are 290 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 6: at that moment. You have to literally just accept like 291 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 6: this is where I am in that moment and process 292 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 6: through it. However, you need to process through it when 293 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 6: you bury it and keep it a secret because I 294 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 6: have a public job, or because people see me or 295 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 6: because I'm in public, You're just gonna make yourself sicker. 296 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 3: Like you really have to just accept. And here's the thing, Like. 297 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 6: We are conditioned, like as a black culture, we're conditioned 298 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 6: to think, if you knew my pain, you would perceive 299 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 6: me as weak. So thus I have to hide that 300 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 6: pain so you perceive me as strong. But I'm telling y'all, 301 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 6: the strongest thing you. 302 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 3: Could ever do is be you. Period. 303 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,559 Speaker 6: So if on that day me is processing a trauma, 304 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 6: then damn it, you're gonna have to just see me 305 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 6: processing a trust. That's just how it works. So it's 306 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 6: unfortunate sometimes that we have to process see things in public, 307 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 6: and it's unfortunate that social media does what it does. 308 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 6: But I don't give a damn. This is me and 309 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:14,839 Speaker 6: on this day, this is how I have to show up. 310 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 6: And when you can show up as you every single day, 311 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 6: that is true strength. 312 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: Yes, thank you for adding that question. That was a 313 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: great question. 314 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 2: You you can turn on ig on any get a 315 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 2: moment and see me in an ugly cris I don't care. 316 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: You're gonna get who I am in that moment. 317 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 2: Thank you, Elliott for that, Charlotmayne, what message of hope 318 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 2: would you like to leave everyone who's struggling in silence? 319 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 3: Man, The message of hope is that you're not alone. 320 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 5: And you don't realize that until you start sharing your story, 321 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 5: like I said earlier, until you start realizing that you know, 322 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 5: you're only a sick as your secrets. Like Elliot Connie said, 323 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 5: that's why it's so important for us to have spaces 324 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 5: like this. Man, this is community, right, And I thought 325 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 5: it was unique, the stuff that I was dealing with. 326 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 5: That's why I would keep it to myself. But then 327 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 5: when I started sharing it and realizing, like, no, there's 328 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 5: other people out there dealing with anxieties, other people out 329 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 5: there dealing with depression, there's other people out there dealing 330 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 5: with PTSD. This out there people out there dealing with 331 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 5: things that you know, I couldn't even comprehend. Like when 332 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 5: you just start sharing that story, man, you just form 333 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 5: this this village, and we got to get back to that. 334 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 5: We got to get back to being a village. We 335 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 5: got to get back to you know, lifting each other up. 336 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 3: You know, I love that. 337 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 5: I love that meme of that basketball player when he 338 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 5: had his head down and the brother just came and 339 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 5: helped them lift it up, like little simple things like that. 340 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 3: So the hope is. 341 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 5: That you're not alone. So just share your story and 342 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 5: you'll realize you're not alone. 343 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 2: Yes, thank you, I want to give our final words 344 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 2: to the baby. 345 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: Anything else you'd like to share, all the things. 346 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 4: I'm sorry, I'm mean to cut you off. I'm just 347 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 4: I'm excited, you know what I'm saying right now. I'm 348 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 4: just excited because all the information that these three great 349 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 4: people on the stage are sharing. This is this is 350 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 4: my life and real time, you know what I mean, Like, 351 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 4: this is really my life in real time. About a 352 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 4: week ago, I felt completely alone in my. 353 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 3: Struggle and what I've been through. 354 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 4: When I go sit down with him at Breakfast Club 355 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 4: last week, when I come sit down right here, I 356 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 4: met about a dozen people backstage before coming out here 357 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 4: as well as the what this is about two thousand 358 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 4: people in here, closely two thousand people in here, like 359 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 4: you know, to see everybody in here have similar interests 360 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 4: and you know, be seeking this information and have this 361 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 4: information impact everybody out here, and you know, get you 362 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 4: guys to just nod your head and agree. I'm up 363 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 4: here beside these guys, Like like, I feel like he's 364 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 4: talking to me. Everything you say, I feel like you're 365 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 4: talking to me. Everything they've set up here, I feel 366 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 4: like they're talking directly to me. So I'm just super 367 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 4: excited to just embark on this journey and start therapy 368 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 4: myself and I have, you know, as many conversations as 369 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 4: I can, Like I'm actually upset that I didn't bring 370 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 4: my nieces, my brother's kids with me, and my mom 371 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 4: with me, so you know, like, I'm just excited to 372 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 4: just you know, to leave here today and just to 373 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 4: go tell everybody, you know, all the great information that 374 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 4: I gained here today, and to just bring my family 375 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 4: along with me and others that I need along with 376 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 4: me on this. 377 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 3: Journey of Hilla. 378 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: I love that. Yes, give it up. 379 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 2: So we're out of time now, but we got three 380 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 2: strong black men, and I just want to say to 381 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:05,959 Speaker 2: each one of you black men, I'm always corning acronyms, 382 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 2: man manifesting a need, manifesting a need to be vulnerable, 383 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 2: to be transparent, to be okay with who you are being, 384 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 2: taking care of yourself and knowing that self care is 385 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 2: not selfish, right, and pouring back into your community. Y'all 386 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 2: give it up for these black men poor, helping to 387 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 2: erase stigma and shame around suicide in the black community. 388 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: Thank y'all so much, and let's give it up for them. 389 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 3: Thank you.