As my husband was searching tonight for a song appropriate for my first blog post on Suicide, he found an amazing hit song released by Logic, a Rapper—April 27, 2017 through Visionary Music Group and Def Jam Recording, entitled “1-800-273-8255.” (This number happens to be the direct number to Suicide Prevention). The song spotlights Canadian singer and songwriter Alessia Cara. Also featured is American singer-songwriter Khalid. As of today’s date, this dynamo song has resonated with millions of viewers and currently has a whooping 178 million views, 1.4 million likes and is helping people all over this nation!
Logic, whose given name is Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, was a High School Student who struggled with intense anxiety. He was repeated made to feel he shouldn’t talk about his struggle on social media and that ‘those who kill themselves are weak,’ he told Grammy’s Writer Jennifer Velez in an interview: “I was so scared for so long to say that because social media has lead me to believe that my anxiety is stupid and shouldn’t be talked about, or that suicide, ‘Who cares, who’s weak enough to kill themselves?,’ which is the most terrible, disgusting, ugly thing somebody can say.” By prompting from his fans, he decided to write this current song addressing the myriads of high school kids struggling with thoughts of suicide and contemplating suicide. Many who call Suicide Preventions hotline—and speak to one of their counselors, realize they want to live, prompting the direct line to Suicide Prevention being the title of his song.
CBS news stated his song may have saved hundreds of lives. A study was done and published in the BMJ, (a weekly peer reviewed medical journal by the British Medical Association), that revealed almost 10,000 calls went to Lifeline—a 6.9% increase over the expected number after hearing this song—during 34 days in 2017 and 2018, all during Logic’s song receiving heightened public attention. To the study authors surprise, an estimated 245 fewer suicides took place in the same time period—5.5 % below the anticipated number. Immediately following the songs release, and after a performance at the 2017 MTV awards and performing at the 2018 Grammys, authors continued following a surge of activity connected to the song on Twitter.
According to National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the significant influence mass media can have on reducing suicides by “responsibly reporting on suicide and presenting non-suicidal alternatives to crisis,” can be monumental.
Logic says, “To know that my music was actually affecting people’s lives, truly, that’s what inspired me to make the song,” he said in a statement to CNN. He continued, “We did it from a really warm place in our hearts to try to help people. And the fact that it actually did, that blows my mind.”
The song went Quintuple Platinum and remains Logic’s best performing song on Spotify with more than 1 billion streams. On YouTube, as of today, as mentioned earlier, has over 178 plus million views.
Logic told “CBS Sunday Morning,” that though he did not have suicidal thoughts, his fans convinced him to tackle the subject. “I just wanted them to know that they really weren’t alone,” he said. “That’s why I write songs like this. That’s why I’m myself. That’s why I walk around with fanny packs and love sci-if, and say it, because I want people to be themselves, no matter who they are or what they do.”
To listen to Logic’s song on You Tube search “Logic” & Title of song, “1-800-273-8255.”
For the full story: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/logic-1-800-273-8255-song-suicide-prevention
