How Africa News
The hashtag #YouGoodMan began a day after Kid Cudi announced that he had checked into rehab for depression and suicidal urges.
In a Facebook post, the hip-hop artist and actor said that he felt ashamed about what he needed to share, to “be a leader and hero to so many while admitting I’ve been living a lie.”
The artist, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, said he checked himself into a facility on Monday, and that if he hadn’t, he “would’ve done something” to himself.
The hashtag being used on Wednesday was created by Dayna Lynn Nuckolls and her friend — who asked to be identified only by his Twitter handle, @TheCosby. Both told BuzzFeed News they wanted to create a space for black men to connect on the topic of mental illnesses.
Nuckolls, an artist and musician who lives in Chicago, said that Kid Cudi’s statement Tuesday night resonated with her.
“I had just been having a conversation with a black man close to me about getting professional help about his trauma,” she said.
“When I saw that someone with so much to gain, but also so much to lose in sharing something personal like that came forward, it made me happy because it opened the door and gave others permission to do the same,” she added.
Nuckolls tweeted at @TheCosby Wednesday morning, and the two publicly brainstormed a name for the hashtag, settling on #YouGoodMan.
Can we start a new hashtag for Black men's mental health #YouOkBruh? I hope folks don't feel it's appropriated. @TheCosby
— Dayna Lynn Nuckolls (@DaynaLNuckolls) October 5, 2016
We probably need something else #YouGoodMan https://t.co/eI29zOdHUN
— No Relation (@TheCosby) October 5, 2016
Since the hashtag started, black men, and some women, took to Twitter to share their thoughts and feelings on the topic.
https://twitter.com/ribbonenthesky/status/783676876774576128
I've been dealing with depression and anxiety my whole adult life. Shit is hard to live with. Harder to express in words. #YouGoodMan
— Goku Black (@NelsonBangdela) October 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/afrokai/status/783665055481028608
Counseling and medicine are expensive. I smoke every day to cope with my own head. Sometimes it's for fun. Sometimes it not. #YouGoodMan
— Smokey Carmichael (@turtlewithapen) October 5, 2016
-buzzfeed
