(The Dallas Examiner) – “Black don’t crack they say, but it can. I can. We all can,” said Grammy-winning musician, Megan Thee Stallion, as she opened up about her mental health journey in public service announcements for “Seize the Awkward.”

Megan starred in the campaign’s latest series of PSAs that are aimed at encouraging young adults to create safe spaces for their friends in hopes of promoting open and honest conversations about mental well-being.

“[My friend] checks in on me, and I check in with her. It feels really good to have somebody that supports me that way,” she said. “I know a lot of times I’m presenting to my friends like I got it together…nothing is wrong with me.”

The rapper serves as a role model against stigma as she gets personal about the importance of opening up to people that can be trusted and the pressures to be strong. The PSA has been seen nationwide through a series of digital, broadcast and social formats.

“I got involved with this campaign because I genuinely know how it feels like where I don’t want to open up, and I don’t want to talk about it,” Megan explained. “And I don’t tell people, ‘No, I don’t like this,’ ‘This is affecting me this way,’ ‘I’m sad,’ ‘I don’t want to do that.’ And I know what it feels like to be in your head and feel like, I can’t talk to anybody about this. I don’t want anybody to know. I’m embarrassed about how I feel.”

Now she encourages other young women to open up about how they feel and tell someone they can trust. Also, be there for your friends to open up to you, as well.

When selecting the trusted messenger for the campaign, Deb Leiter, senior vice president of campaign development, emphasized the importance of authenticity and the ability to connect with teens and young adults, particularly within the African American community.

“Megan telling her personal experiences and her story and as someone the public really perceived as this strong, tough woman serves as a role model for others,” Leiter said. “She’s showing how important it is to be vulnerable and to open up.”

The rate of mental illness among African Americans is slightly lower than that among White Americans. However, 39% of Black Americans sought mental health care as opposed to the 52% of White Americans, according to a 2021 study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Many factors have contributed to the low use of resources – from the high prevalence of misdiagnosis to cultural pressures. Experts have stated that stigma from the community continues to be the leading culprit.

For the Black community, stigma has taken on a unique form due to its medical experiences. Black patients have historically been misdiagnosed at higher rates than White patients. Additionally, Black Americans have historically been exploited through medical experiments. Distrust of the medical establishment consequently led to a reluctance to discuss mental health and views receiving care as a sign of weakness, according to the National Institution of Health.

Beyond the numbers lies a narrative that’s quietly unfolding within the Black community. Gen Z, composed of people born between 1996 and 2010, is leading the revolution of destigmatizing mental health through open conversation across various mediums. Digital platforms have been able to serve as a vital space for this generation to connect with others who share similar struggles, including celebrities who openly discuss their mental health journeys. Gen Z is more willing to talk about mental health as well as seek treatment at higher rates than any previous generations, according to the American Psychology Association.

Dr. Natasha Gresham, director of the Center for Counseling and Behavioral Health at The Potter’s House, had not heard about therapy until she was 22. Growing up in a religious community she thought counseling wasn’t something that could fit into the culture.

“It was something that rich White people do,” she said. “It was nothing that a person of faith did because we had God and prayer, and that’s all you needed.”

Gresham said religion has often been used to diminish the legitimacy of seeking mental health care but, as a faith-based counselor, she said that the two concepts can complement each other, only if faith has played a major part in the person’s life.

“I don’t try to make you believe what I believe. We invite whatever your higher power is into that session,” she said. “Since I work in a Christian-based center we’re inviting God into sessions to help us open our minds and thoughts.”

Gresham highlighted that the real misconception is people think mental health can’t be incorporated into their daily lives. She said that counseling can help navigate normal life things like divorce, raising kids, dealing with substance abuse or transitioning into a new job.

“We all have mental health. We don’t all have a mental illness, and just because life is life-ing we need counseling. It’s a safe place to discuss our feelings and emotions,” Gresham said. “It doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.”

Experts have stated that reducing the stigma surrounding mental health could increase the likelihood that individuals who need care will seek and help establish more opportunities and spaces to connect with those who face the same struggles.

Leiter explained that the campaign hoped to foster open dialogues about mental wellness within the Black community across all age groups. The initiative’s focus on the Black community stemmed from a recognition of the unique mental health barriers faced by its members. Megan’s role as a spokesperson conveys this message.

“I really think it’s a universal kind of message because we all have struggles and go through tough times,” Leiter said.