mental health Archives - RVA Mag

RVA Mag

Richmond, VA Culture & Politics Since 2005

Menu

Latinos In Therapy: An Interview With Gina Brillon

|

Topics: , , , , , ,

Hello reader! I’m back this week with one of my favorite comedians, Gina Brillon. The Bronx comic had a huge year, becoming a mom, becoming a finalist on America’s Got Talent, and hitting the road hard in support of her success on the hit NBC show. This Boricua is no stranger to success, having previously had two hit specials on Amazon Prime and HBO, as well as making appearances on The View, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. It’s been a year since she’s been to Richmond (we spoke to her then too), and we had a lot to catch up on. We’re both parents now, and happened to both be on the phone while watching our kids, so of course we talk about raising children, her experience on America’s Got Talent, and working out her upcoming special. Here’s our conversation.

Gabe: How’ve you been? We spoke last year when you were performing in Richmond.

Gina: Yes, you did.

Gabe: That was right on the brink of America’s Got Talent.

Gina: I believe so. – I know, papa. [baby in background] Sorry, you’re going to hear my son, who is right in a very ‘mommy is everything’ stage of life.

Gabe: I’m right there with you. I actually just had a newborn, who’s upstairs asleep right now.

Gina: Oh, so you know.

Gabe: Two weeks in.

Gina: Wow, congratulations.

Gabe: Thank you. I’m in the same boat.

Gina: At least we both understand each other’s positions right now. [laughs]

Gabe: [laughs] Absolutely. I believe last year he was in the background too.

Gina: I completely understand. And you’re gonna hear Encanto playing in the background.

Gabe: Sing it! So what’s been happening over the past year? You did AGT. Was all that prerecorded?

Gina: Just the audition. The audition had been a couple months before anything had happened, because production was kind of a mess because of Covid. So I did the audition in April, but the show didn’t start until August I think. I kind of blur it out.

Gabe: When that happened you really hit the ground running. You were all over the road.

Gina: Yeah, once the show was over — it was literally the weekend after the show was done, I ended up having a gig that next weekend in California. So once the show ended, everything really took off. And I hadn’t really had any time off. The only time off I really had is this month; I’ve really only been working pretty much in the east coast. That was my time off. [laughs] Still working but just not getting on a plane.

Gabe: Right? Well, when you have that much momentum going with the show, you have to show up for stuff, because things are starting to happen.

Gina: Yeah.

Gabe: I think those competitions can be so hard for comedians, because the set is only two minutes or something.

Gina: Yeah. It’s, like, two to three minutes that they’ll let you play with. Nothing over that. Which is a short amount of time, but I look at it like someone might look at writing or putting together a late night set for Jimmy Kimmel or Jimmy Fallon. You know what I mean? Any of the Jimmy’s. Where you basically condense your act, your personality, stories from your life, into about four minutes, you know?

Gabe: That’s where you gotta put the bangers in there.

Gina: Yeah. That’s where you put the heavy hitters in there. And it was a good time. It was a stressful amount of time to have to perform for — only because you have to listen to the judges’ comments after. It’s not the performing that’s the issue. It’s the nerve-wracking… now I have to hear what these people, who — aside from Howie [Mandel] — do not do comedy, think of my act.

Gabe: That’s a good point. Because usually you can just say, ‘That’s my time,’ and get off stage. But in this scenario, you gotta wait around to see what people think.

Gina: Yeah, you’d be like, ‘Hey, that’s my time. Now I’m going to stand here and potentially get berated.’

Gabe: I guess there’s Howie sticking up for comics.

Gina: Yeah, I think as a comic he’s obligated to kinda back up comics. Especially since, you know, I think everybody would have liked them to win this year. Somebody said something to me once, and I’ll never forget. It was a former manager, who is now working at TruTV. She said, ‘You know, a comic will never win America’s Got Talent, because a skilled comedian makes it look effortless.’ We make it look like it’s not the hardest thing. We make it look so easy, and we’re up against acrobats, and people that swallow fire. [Gabe laughs] And they’re like, ‘Yeah, you tell jokes. That person almost lost their life to a chainsaw trick they just did.’ So it can look less impressive.

Gabe: That sounds like some stiff competition. So, currently do you have anything going on? Is there a new special in the works at all?

Gina: Currently I’m working on a new special. A lot of the material that I’m doing on the road now is stuff that I’m working out for the special, so please be patient while I’m under construction. Because it’s a lot of new stuff that’s building, and although I’m having a lot of fun with it, some stuff will stay in some stuff will be taken out. Some stuff would be for ‘play-play,’ and then some stuff will be longer and have more of a point. I’m really playing with a lot of subjects in this next special, like the idea of therapy and how taboo it is amongst Latinos. I’ve been going to therapy for quite a few years now. And I have a friend who’s been in therapy since she was a child. And we as a community, as a culture, we don’t talk about it. We don’t talk about the necessity for it. There’s a lot to be said for the necessity of therapy and people’s lives. I personally think everybody should go. I think everybody should go, because we all have something to work.

Gabe: You gotta exercise and flex that emotional muscle sometimes.

Gina: Yeah, it’s a thing that I feel, when people talk about it, it’s still so taboo. And you know, in communities of people of color, we don’t trust therapy, but we’ll trust our tia who’s been divorced six times to give us relationship advice. It’s a messed up way of thinking, that, ‘Let me ask this non-expert on psychology on the human condition, let me ask this person about a life-altering situation I have.’ Instead of going to somebody who has literally studied everything from personality types to mental disorders, and has made it their business to reorganize people’s thought patterns in a healthier way. We don’t trust that person. We get our information from sources that aren’t always the best sources, just because we’re too afraid to talk to a ‘stranger.’

Gabe: Mental health is more important than it’s ever been in the past. I’m glad to hear you’re diving into that. You think you’re going with Amazon again for your special, or are you possibly looking elsewhere?

Gina: Well, we’ve mentioned it to Amazon. I told them I would love to work with them again, but I’m kind of keeping my options open. I haven’t talked to many people about it, but the intention is to, when I’m ready, talk to places that I have relationships with already. Talk to Amazon, talk to HBO, talk to Netflix, potentially others, reach out to them and see where I will be the most heard, because that’s a huge thing for me. Creatively, I need to be heard as to what I want for specials. Having worked with Amazon before, they’re a really good contender, because I really had a great time working with them. Had a great experience. My special performed well. They were wonderful throughout the process. But I’m not just putting all my eggs in one basket at this point. I even have a chance to self-produce the special, if I wanted to.

Gabe: That’s big right now.

Gina: If I self-produce a special, I just have so much more creative control over everything that goes on in the special. And that’s a huge thing for comedians, or anybody in general, putting together a piece. To have that creative control that you wouldn’t get if there were another entity involved. Actually put a cap on it.

You can watch Gina Brillon’s current specials, The Floor is Lava and Pacifically Speaking, on Amazon Prime right now. You can also catch her performing five shows right here in Richmond at Sandman Comedy Club Thursday through Saturday. She’s one of the best in the biz. You gotta see her. As we discussed above, Gina’s going to be working out some new material for her upcoming special, and it’s always great to see the new stuff before it’s released. Be sure to show up an hour early for food and beverages. Tickets can be found at Sandman Comedy Club’s website.

Schools Struggle to Provide Mental Health Resources During Shutdown

|

Topics: , , , , , , , ,

The current quarantine has left many students around Virginia with no access to mental health care previously provided at schools — at the very time when their needs are often most acute.

Virginia school administrators say they are struggling to provide mental health services during the coronavirus pandemic, even as vulnerable students continue with online studies away from regular counseling and support.

As school systems move to virtual learning, school counseling resources, deemed critical to student wellness by the U.S. Department of Education, are unable to provide in-person therapy for high-risk students. The alternative treatments — online sessions or new therapists from community services boards — could fall short in continuing care and supporting students during the pandemic, mental health professionals say.

The global crisis has brought added stress and anxiety to students and their families. More than 100,000 children and teens suffer from mental illness in Virginia, according to the state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

The pandemic “is going to exacerbate some of those kids’ symptoms — even the kids that have outside providers,” said Nicolo Porto, a high school social worker in Northern Virginia. “The biggest thing that we’re still working through is we can’t provide mental health services to kids.”

Art by Julie Elman, Capital News Service – University of Richmond Bureau

For many students, access to trusted adults and mental health resources were suddenly cut off on March 23, when Gov. Ralph Northam officially closed schools throughout Virginia for the rest of the academic year. Several other local school boards had made the decision weeks earlier.

“I was genuinely devastated,” said one student from Chesterfield who had been regularly meeting with her school’s resource officer and relied on support from three teachers. The 18-year-old student, who wished to remain anonymous, said her resources at school were like family to her.

“Those four people were my rock. They were the sole reason why I would get out of bed in the morning,” the Chesterfield teen said. “I never got to say a goodbye or anything. One day they were three feet away from me and next they were gone — like someone just turned the light off. I still get emotional thinking about it.”

 Universal efforts are being made across school divisions to help children transition, Maribel Saimre, director of student services at the Virginia Department of Education, wrote in an email. Although schools are providing students and their parents with coping strategies during virtual learning, consistency of care is not guaranteed, she said. 

“Resources vary by community,” Saimre said. “Crisis intervention is available across all community service boards, but other services are going to vary depending on the locality and providers.”

While some school districts are embracing telehealth, others are hesitant to use it as a replacement for in-person treatment. 

Virtual counseling poses privacy concerns, and can produce lower quality care, Porto said.

Porto, who specializes in crisis intervention and trauma, said his role as a school social worker abruptly shifted to an administrative role when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Virginia. Porto had been working regularly with several students when his school district suddenly closed schools. Since his school closed, he has had no contact or time to make contingency plans with any of his students due to legal and ethical concerns.

Art by Julie Elman, Capital News Service – University of Richmond Bureau

Each school district has its own guidelines for how or if counselors can contact their students. For example, some districts allow counselors to send emails to students to check in, but others require specific signed permission for outside-of-school contact related to privacy practices and counseling confidentiality.

School social workers and psychologists in Virginia are not required to complete telehealth training, as it isn’t necessary in typical school environments. Even with training, Porto said the quality of virtual healthcare is diminished because counselors cannot analyze body language.

Mental health professionals also cannot guarantee a confidential environment over a virtual platform. “There’s no way to be sure that their parent isn’t sitting off-camera,” Porto said.

Porto also said that because some families do not believe in mental health treatment, their children lose all of their mental health resources when schools close. Other students who don’t typically seek resources may find themselves in need during social distancing and continued isolation.

School psychologists and social workers are left to focus on providing online resources and communicating with parents, who frequently must initiate contact.

To cope with concerns over treatment gaps, administrators are also referring students to providers outside of the school system. Saimre said some Virginia localities are using an out-of-office voicemail system to refer students to community resources.

“The double-edged sword is that there are actually a lot of places for mental health, but very few of them actually take insurance, and even then, it can still be expensive,” Porto said.

Even if students want to have online therapy sessions, many cannot. In 17 Virginia counties, less than half of the population has access to broadband internet, according to Broadband Now, an advocacy group.

“The well-off kids have access to that, but many, many kids don’t have access to it, so they are caught in a situation where they are deprived,” said Bob Trestman, chair of psychiatry and behavioral health at the Carilion Clinic in Roanoke. “I have no doubt that there are many children who previously were receiving care who now, either no longer have access or, because of the nature of their problems, no longer have the support to continue their care.”

Some districts throughout the state have tried to combat digital inequity by providing computers, tablets or internet hotspots. However, some districts can’t afford it.

“It could have an outsized impact on kids who are not able to connect in person or to connect electronically,” said Lloyd English, a school psychologist for Norfolk Public Schools, where hotspots have been distributed to those in need. He expected the extended period of isolation to be difficult for everyone.

Art by Julie Elman, Capital News Service – University of Richmond Bureau

The economic collapse caused by the pandemic has left many families in financial distress. Over 410,000 Virginians applied for unemployment benefits during the first four weeks of the crisis. A parent’s stress is often felt by their children. 

“As parents, we transmit all of those anxieties to our kids, no matter how hard we try not to,” English said. “Our students definitely feel that pressure, even for the younger ones.”

With mounting financial concerns, children might find it harder to ask for help.

“We’re already starting to see some of our families that may not ordinarily need to access the meal services, coming to the meal service line to get food,” Porto said. “If your basic needs aren’t even met, you can’t begin to think about your health or your mental health. They’re not going to be in an environment that they can do self-care, because they’re just trying to survive.”

 Most school-provided mental health resources will likely remain limited until students are back in classrooms and able to return to in-person counseling. 

Porto said he believes there will be an uptick in students needing mental health services in the fall due to COVID-19, whether the student was personally affected by the disease or other stresses related to the pandemic.

Porto has turned to providing online resources for students and families. He created the Mental Health, Wellness, and Community Resources for Families, which lists places students and families can turn to in order to cope with COVID-19.

“When we come back, it’s going to hit me like a freight train, how little I was able to do,” Porto said. “I [will] have to put on my work hat and deal with that in the moment because that’s what these kids need from us.”

Emergency Mental Health Resources:

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Text “NAMI” to 741741 if you are having suicidal thoughts or urges.

Written By Alexis Angelus and Stacey Dec, Capital News Service – University of Richmond Bureau. Top Photo by Sam Balye on Unsplash

VA law requires mental health training for school counselors

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , ,

More than 20 percent of children in the U.S. have or have had depression or other serious mental disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Soon, school counselors in Virginia will be in a better position to help identify students with such problems. BeginningJuly 1, a new state law will require school counselors to receive more training in the recognition of mental health disorders and behavioral distress.

“Mental health can get better with intervention. Without identifying it, it will only get worse,” said Dr. Donna Dockery,the director of clinical practice in the counseling and special education department at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Senate Bill 1117 was sponsored by two Democrats from Northern Virginia – Sen. Jeremy McPike of Prince William County and Del. Vivian Watts of Fairfax County. It states that anyone “seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license with an endorsement as a school counselor shall complete training in the recognition of mental health disorder and behavioral distress, including depression, trauma, violence, youth suicide, and substance abuse.”

The law strengthens the Virginia Department of Education’s existing regulations for school counselors. Dockery said it’s important that counselors be able to recognize the signs of mental illness.

“We treat the physical pain; let’s treat the mental pain,” she said.

Dockery said young people today often have a lot of anxiety and must deal with traumatic events. With the help of counselors and families recognizing these situations, students can get the help they need.

McPike’s legislative assistant, Devin Cabot, said that under the new law, the state will establish guidelines for the mental health training that school counselors must complete.

“We are very focused on the new trends of bullying and teen suicide,” Cabot said.

In the past, Cabot said, school counselors in different school districts might have received different training. McPike’s legislation will provide a more uniform approach, she said.

Local school officials are taking measures to educate themselves about the new law.

Chris Whitley is the public information officer for Hanover County Public Schools. Hanover school officials are waiting on guidance from the Virginia Department of Education before moving forward, Whitley said.

School districts will be affected by more than a dozen bills that were approved by the General Assembly during its 2017 session and signed into law by Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

The Virginia Department of Education is working to ensure that school divisions are aware of the new laws.

Symbolic, But Important Nonetheless: Richmond City Council Bans Conversion Therapy

|

Topics: , , , , , , , ,

Due to Virginia law, the ban can’t be enforced. But by passing it, Richmond City Council still sends a powerful message.

On Monday, Richmond’s City Council passed a resolution enacting a ban on conversion therapy within the city. The resolution, which is non-binding, was proposed by Mayor Levar Stoney, and received unanimous support from the nine members of City Council.

Conversion therapy, as many of us in Virginia’s LGBTQ community know all too well, is the practice of attempting to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity through therapeutic processes that are unscientific and often religiously based. A 2018 study published in the Journal Of Homosexuality found that participants in the study who’d undergone conversion therapy were five times more likely to have attempted suicide than those who hadn’t.

Over the past year, three different state boards regulating mental health caregivers have banned the practice by refusing approval for those who engage in conversion therapy. However, multiple attempts at passing bills in the General Assembly to ban conversion therapy in Virginia outright have failed in the House Of Delegates. Most recently in 2019’s General Assembly, a Senate bill introduced by 23rd District Virginia Senator Stephen D. Newman passed the Senate, but failed to make it out of committee in the House Of Delegates.

In a statement, Mayor Stoney praised the City Council’s decision, saying, “I am proud that members of Richmond’s City Council joined me in opposing the inhumane and regressive practice of conversion therapy and affirming the sexual orientation and identities of all Richmonders.”

The vote is, unfortunately, non-binding and symbolic. As a Dillon Rule state, Virginia requires any law passed by localities within the Commonwealth to align exactly with the laws passed by the state government. Therefore, without the passage of a state law banning conversion therapy, the City of Richmond has no legal ability to enforce a ban within city limits.

Nonetheless, activists were pleased by the verdict. Speaking to WTVR, Equality Virginia Deputy Director Vee Lamneck pointed out that this decision was a first in Virginia, and remains important despite its symbolic nature.

Conversion therapy survivor Adam Trimmer, who runs the conversion therapy survivors support group Love Actually Won RVA and is the Virginia ambassador for national anti-conversion therapy campaign Born Perfect, spoke of his experience during the public comment period for City Council’s resolution, and was thankful that they went on to pass the resolution.

“We are finally being heard and hopefully this can stop happening to our community,” he told WTVR. “I hope that the members of the General Assembly see this, and I hope they see [that] Mayor Stoney and City of Richmond support our efforts to protect the LGBTQ+ youth.”

Photo: GayRVA archives

Erasing The Stigma

|

Topics: , , , ,

With his Men To Heal movement, James Harris works to make therapy accessible and mental health a priority for working-class men of color.

As a child in the foster care system, James Harris grew up attending mandated counseling sessions provided by the state. Now, Harris has started his own movement to end the stigma of men’s mental health: Men to Heal.

During Harris’ childhood, counseling was seen as taboo — and he says it still often is seen that way now. In spite of the fact that it was discouraged in his community, Harris was required to attend sessions as a ward of the state after he had been separated from his family.

These counseling sessions were not something that Harris always took seriously. They lacked the genuine connection he so desired. “It was hard for me to want to engage with somebody who doesn’t look like me,” he said.

However, while he didn’t always find that connection he yearned for when he was growing up, he felt it was important to create that connection for the generations of men that came after him — to not only change the stigma, but encourage others to pursue help when needed.

“I definitely wish I had gotten more out of it and took it more seriously,” Harris said of his childhood counseling. “That’s the whole purpose behind my movement, and the whole purpose of why I went back to school.”

After his first year of college and two years overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. Army, Harris decided to finish his education and earn a masters in clinical mental health counseling. As a resident in counseling, Harris currently hosts community-based services, volunteers, and offers outpatient counseling services to male clients.

For Harris, the way that therapy is portrayed adds to the stigma that deters people from trying it.

“I want people to understand that Hollywood therapy is different than actual therapy,” Harris said. “I want to be engaging and create a cohesive relationship with the people that I serve and serve people that I look like.”

As a black male counselor, Harris is a rarity in the world of clinical counseling. He sees his work as filling an important need for an often-underserved community who don’t get the kind of help they need in order to really connect and make improvements in their lives.

“Think about the 13 year old African American who’s living in low socioeconomic areas,” he continued. “They’re not comfortable with talking to this white man who probably can’t relate.”

With that understanding, Harris began his Men To Heal movement with hoodies and t-shirts, as well as a variety of programs focused on changing the idea that men and cannot and do not experience depression and other mental health concerns.

Andre Ingram

One of Harris’ most involved and supportive followers of the movement has been his cousin Andre Ingram. Ingram, who played for the NBA minor leagues for years and recently joined the NBA G League’s South Bay Lakers, struggled with mental health while playing abroad in Australia two and a half years ago.

“Men, athletes, and men of color are the three types of people that don’t want to ask for help,” Ingram said. “That was me wrapped in one.”

After hearing about Harris’ movement to address mental health for men, Ingram knew he wanted to be involved in any way he could. What Ingram most related to was the stigma that surrounds men’s mental health today, leading men to try getting a handle on their lives themselves instead of seeking help.

“I directly relate mostly to every time he posts about the stigmas,” Ingram said. “We’ve got to end it all.”

Not only does Harris frequently post about his movement on social media, he also hosts programs to educate those who are interested in finding the mental health-related answers they’re looking for.

As an active member in the Richmond community as co-owner of Brewers Waffles and The Well art gallery, Harris has been approached by local organizations seeking seminars and other programs related to the movement. Harris has also hosted sessions with national and international organizations, spanning from right here in the U.S. to Afghanistan, Germany, and Spain.

Through his programs, Harris shares statistics about the ways men and women differ in seeking services, addresses different mental health symptoms, and diagnoses. He educates about healthy coping habits, and how women can best support the men in their lives. Participation in the movement has been diverse, reaching African American, Asian, and Caucasian men since its inception.

“People want services from people who look like them,” Harris said. “So, it’s been received well.”

Despite having reached over 1,000 people between the seminars, programs, and apparel, Harris has yet to market the movement; all growth has been produced organically. Those who have come across the Men to Heal apparel have contacted Harris directly to order their own through Instagram, he said.

James Harris with Mayor Levar Stoney

Ingram attested to the genuine manner in which Men to Heal has grown, citing the ways his teammates have responded to his involvement in the movement.

“It’s just putting an end to so much of that macho feel,” Ingram said. “People are coming directly for the help they need.”

“It’s a wonderful thing to see a man not be afraid to say ‘Hey man, I’m struggling. I need some help. How do I get that?’” Ingram said. “We all go through it.”

In the future, Harris said he hoped to expand the movement into a possible non-profit organization, which he hopes will be able to assist more people.

“Right now I just want to continue to grow and to bring awareness to it, and continue to help people,” Harris said. “As it comes, I’ll figure out where it needs to go.”

As a participant in the movement, Ingram said that he had seen the stigma change for people, and even in his own understanding of self-worth.

“You want to see people well,” Ingram said. “Your health is the true wealth.”

Find James Harris and Men to Heal on Instagram at @men_to_heal.

Photos via James Harris/Facebook

Mac Miller’s Open Struggle With Depression and Addiction Made Him the Most Real

|

Topics: , , , , , , , ,

On Halloween night, thousands gathered at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles for a tribute concert dedicated to the life of artist Mac Miller, who passed away in September from a rumored overdose. Miller’s closest musician friends hit the stage to perform his favorite songs and the songs they’d made together. John Mayer, Chance the Rapper, Miguel, and many others spoke highly of Miller, sharing the memories they had of him with his grieving fans. This concert was the much-needed closure for family, friends, and fans of Mac Miller.

Miller’s death hit my generation hard. For us, rushing home off the bus in middle school to check out the latest music videos on YouTube and watch Wiz Khalifa’s DayToDay vlogs was the thing to do. Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Wale, Curren$y, Dom Kennedy, and Mac Miller were all in one class of artist. In another, you had A$AP Mob, Black Hippy (TDE), Flatbush Zombies, and The Underachievers. Yeats later, every single one of them still holds weight in the music industry.

While each of these artists were great, there was something different about Mac Miller. What was it that made his music so captivating? Besides the fact that he was a scrawny, witty, funny looking white kid, it was an undeniable fact that he had bars. He introduced us to “frat rap” and showed us how to “kick incredibly dope shit,” all while staying true to who he was. In the industry, a lot of artists get caught up in everything but the music and move away from their sound, chasing whatever is trending. Mac Miller never did.

Photo by Jules Muir

This is why his death at 26 hit us so hard. At a concert in Chicago the night after Miller’s death was reported, Childish Gambino said, “This Mac Miller shit got me fucked up… we were both internet music kids, and a lot of critics were like, ‘This corny-ass white dude, this corny-ass black dude,’ and we used to talk. And this kid, he just loved music.”

Although the sounds Miller created from his classic 2010 mixtape, KIDS to his recently-released final album, Swimming, are extremely different, his music always felt like him. He perfected every sound he experimented with, which showcased his true artistry. Mac Miller made music that everyone could relate to, no matter where you were from. If you wanted to party, there was a song. If you wanted to cry, there was a song. If you were in love, there was a song. If you were heartbroken, there was a song.

Mac Miller brought my generation through all of these emotions as we faced middle school, high school, college, and finally adult life. We didn’t grow up on him, we grew up with him, and there are many people who thank him for being that long-lost friend they never even knew they needed.

And yet it was Mac Miller’s fight with depression and drug addiction, which was no secret, that made him the most real. Like millions of people, this was something he dealt with from the beginning. On his last album, Swimming, he dove deeper than ever before. Songs like “Self Care,” “Wings,” “Come Back to Earth,” and “Hurt Feelings” showed everyone just how in tune he was with these feelings. Music was his therapy, but so were the drugs which ultimately killed him.

Mac Miller, like many people, fell into unhealthy habits when going through something. And like many people, he had a very ugly break-up this past May. He turned to weed, pills, and other hard drugs in an attempt to erase the problem, but looking for that distraction killed him. The National Study on Drug Use and Health, conducted in 2016, found that “28.6 million Americans age 12 and over used illicit drugs during the month prior to the study.” This also means that one in ten people struggle with some form of substance abuse – including prescription drugs.

We have become content with drugs given their prevalence in our communities. Only when a situation like this happens do we realize how it could have been prevented if we just spoke up, instead of enabling. Mac Miller’s house was apparently “cleaned” by someone after his death, someone who enabled him. TMZ reported that a source close to Mac Miller even said it made no sense that someone who’d already taken a fatal overdose would then scrub the house clean of all drugs and paraphernalia in case they happened to die.

Drug addiction and mental health struggles are becoming all too common, in the entertainment industry as well as in everyday life. Recent celebrity deaths including Robin Williams, Anthony Bourdain, and Kate Spade prove that a better conversation about these taboo subjects needs to be had.

J. Cole said it best in his song “Friends,” “drug addiction and depression don’t blend.” And they never will. We have to speak up to our friends who we feel are coping with life the wrong way, before it is too late. Mac Miller waited until it was too late, and he will be added to the list of great influential artists who were taken away from us far too soon. Even as we mourn his loss, though, we thank him for everything he did while he was here. It will never be forgotten.

*Cover photo by Christian Weber