“I’ve been on the low… I been taking my time…. I feel like I’m out if mind…. It feel like my life ain’t mine… (Who can relate?)
According to the lifeline, calls to the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline increased by 50% after American hip hop artist Logic performed his hit song “1-800-273-8255” on MTV’s Video Music Awards in 2017.
“1-800-273-8255” tells the story of a young man’s struggle with suicidal thoughts using powerful, motivating lyrics. Instead of taking his own life, the young man dials 1-800-273-8255, the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Alessia Cara, an alternative R&B artist, plays the crisis worker who answers his call.
A new study finds that there was a 5.5 percent reduction in suicides among 10- to 19-year-olds and nearly ten thousand more calls to the 1-800-273-8255 lifeline during three time periods:
-The first thirty-four days after the song’s release
-Logic’s performance at the 2017 MTV awards
-The performance at the 2018 Grammy Awards
According to the study published Monday in the BMJ, this equates to a reduction of 245 suicides below the expected number during those periods.
Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, an author and associate professor at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, said, “Celebrities, as well as non-celebrities, can play a significant role in suicide prevention if they communicate about how they dealt with crises and suicidal thoughts.”
“Knowing that my music was having an impact on people’s lives was what drove me to write more songs.” Logic told CNN. “We did it because we wanted to help people, and it came from a good place in our hearts. And the fact that it did work truly blows my mind.” He added.
