Silence broken, stigma forgotten

I remember when I read poet Bassey Ikpi's article in The Root last summer. The one in which she tells the world about Siwe Monsanto, the bright black teenager, daughter of Ikpi's close friend. The girl who wrote beyond her years, and also danced, and also cut herself, and also committed suicide at the age of 15. I remember thinking, how brave and generous of Ikpi, to share her grief with us, to tell Siwe's story without shame or fear that this isn't what we're supposed to be talking about.

See, Siwe's more than a number to add to statistics of the increasing rates of black teens losing their lives to suicide. All of those who have lost their lives are. But without sharing their stories, we bury them in the silence so many communities of color hold around the subject of mental health. Stigmas against seeking out mental health treatment or even admitting you're struggling only hurt us, and oftentimes, those who hurt the most are our most vulnerable, the youngest among us. And it's not just a certain type of dialogue that allows these stigmas to continue. It's also a lack of dialogue. That dangerously still silence.

So now, Siwe's story is not just words, but action. Ikpi's launched The Siwe Project, an organization that believes in the power of storytelling for individual healing, as well as community transformation. The project aims to help build "a world in which people of African descent can openly share their experiences with mental health challenges and feel supported in seeking treatment without shame." Visit the website for more details, and check out poet Bassey Ikpi in this touching video created for The Siwe Project.

And also? Tell your stories.