Megan Thee Stallion has been honored with the Mental Health Champion of the Year Award by The Trevor Project.
The nonprofit organization, which is focused on suicide prevention for the LGBTQ+ community, announced Megan’s award on Friday (October 11), which was World Mental Health Day. She joins Lil Nas X, Janelle Monáe, Dua Lipa, and Dylan Mulvaney as a recipient of the award.
"My goal has always been to use my platform to help break stigmas around mental health and provide resources for those seeking safe spaces to have honest and heartfelt conversations," said Megan in a statement. "Mental health impacts all of us, so it’s important to lead with love and empathy. I’m grateful for organizations like The Trevor Project that are committed to spreading awareness and supporting our LGBTQ+ youth in powerful ways."
Megan has made mental health the focus of her advocacy efforts and has been very transparent about her own. In 2022, she launched the "Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too" website, which provided her fans with mental health resources. The site featured links for free therapy, crisis hotlines, and groups that specifically work with the Black community — including therapy for Black women and Black men and a LGBTQ Psychotherapists of Color Directory.
In 2023, Megan released a public service announcement for Seize the Awkward that encouraged her supporters to be aware of their mental health. "I’ve always been told I gotta be strong," she said in the clip. "Thick-skinned. Stiff upper lip. Tough as nails. But to be everything for everybody, it wears on you. 'Black don't crack,' they say, but it can. I can. We all can. It’s okay to not be okay."
In a press release supporting the PSA, Megan expressed the importance of checking in on friends and family about how they’re feeling. "It's important that we regularly check in on our friends and family and make sure to show empathy, encouragement, and love when they're struggling," Megan said. "A strong support system can make a powerful difference in someone's life."
Last April, Megan Megan opened up about how getting shot in the foot by Tory Lanez impacted her mental health. "Before I went onstage, I would be crying half the time because I didn’t want to [perform], but I also didn’t want to upset my fans," she said to Women’s Health.
"I didn’t want to get [out] from under the covers," she continued. "I stayed in my room. I would not turn the lights on. I had blackout curtains. I didn’t want to see the sun. I knew I wasn’t myself. It took me a while to acknowledge that I was depressed. But once I started talking to a therapist, I was able to be truthful with myself."