“Your sadness is a gift. Don’t reject it. Don’t rush it. Live it fully, and use it as fuel to change and grow.”…Maxine Lagacé
“According to the CDC, suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 24, and minority teens have the highest risk. Teen suicide is not just a statistic, it’s a heartbreaking reality that demands our urgent attention and collective action.” – Psychologist Tamara Johnson
At only 14 years old, singer/songwriter, producer, actor and advocate Kylie Marshall is well aware of the mental health issues that cause thoughts of suicide and is hoping to do something about it with her powerful and heart wrenching song and video “Before You Decide”, set to release shortly. Kylie is a beautiful, sensitive and angelic creative, with a talent and a cause that stretches way beyond her years.
One of the most important things to remember about experiencing sadness is that you’re not alone. It seems to well up deep inside unbidden and unwelcome. One of the first steps in processing sadness is to acknowledge that we’re feeling it and that it’s OK. Along with music and human spirit we can conquer those feelings of desperation. It is said that you have to experience sadness to realize what happiness is. As a teenager and as a victim of bullying herself, Kylie understands the strong feelings adolescents go through.
Kylie’s song “Before You Decide” let’s us know that it is not always sunshine that spreads the seed. Darkness makes the hearts case fragile. Pain breaks it open, courage, teases us and life, unfolds and expands. Humanity is fragile, and all the sunshine in the world cannot save the frail or make the delicate invincible. However, love and human touch has the power to strengthen and protect and guide us to a place where we feel sheltered and fulfilled, and where it doesn’t matter if it rains. Those sentiments are what Kylie’s song hopes to fulfill. With this song and crusade she hopes to bring awareness to suicide prevention and save a couple of lives on the way.
Everyone can help prevent suicide by learning the warning signs, promoting prevention and resilience, and committing to a social change. Preventing suicide requires strategies at all levels of society. Showing empathy and encouraging someone to talk about the situation can also help. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 24 in the United States. It is also interesting to know that suicide rate among teenagers have increased from 2010 to 2022 as cyber bullying and social media has become something that people interact with more throughout their daily lives.
Follow Kylie Marshall on IG @kyliemarshallofficial