What Kid Cudi Teaches Us About Mental Illness | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

What Kid Cudi Teaches Us About Mental Illness

The rapper apologized when he checked himself into rehab.

21
What Kid Cudi Teaches Us About Mental Illness
Buzzfeed

Tuesday night, rapper Kid Cudi posted a message to Facebook letting fans know that he had checked himself into rehab on Monday. In the message, he writes, "I am not at peace." He detailed his fight with depression, anxiety, and suicidal urges, saying that the best thing for himself and his daughter was to get help.

The post is deeply personal, leaving Kid Cudi extremely vulnerable. He set aside his ego, the standards set forth by society for rappers, and his fans' expectations in order to be completely genuine and honest. That takes an immense amount of courage.

In a society where mental illness is heavily stigmatized (however, things are changing--slowly), Kid Cudi took a huge step in admitting publicly that he is dealing with depression. As Vine and YouTube star MeechOnMars depicts in his new video, "Be Happy," there is a stereotype that depression is only a "white" thing--that black males cannot suffer from mental illness.

It is clear that Kid Cudi feels the weight of that stereotype and more. At the end of his message, he says, "I feel like shit, I feel so ashamed. I'm sorry." There is nothing for him to be ashamed of, nothing for him to apologize for--after all, his team at Republic Records is going to keep his fans updated with new music while Cudi is away at rehab. Furthermore, Cudi should not feel obligated to apologize for his mental health. No one should.

Mental illness needs to be treated similarly to how we treat physical illness. When someone has a broken leg, they are expected to go get help from a professional. So why is it, then, that when a person says they feel depressed or is having issues with anxiety, they are looked down upon and criticized?

The most courageous thing a person can do is to reach out for help. Kid Cudi should serve not only as an inspiration for people struggling with similar battles, but also as an indication of the stigma surrounding mental health. Shame should be the last thing he feels right now.

It's imperative that we remember that celebrities are human beings. They deal with mental health and other issues just like the rest of us--perhaps on a greater scale. The ones who make us laugh the hardest are sometimes the most depressed, as we saw when Robin Williams committed suicide in 2014. And the artists who inspire us the most--the ones we bump to before a basketball game, the ones we dance to at parties--are sometimes the most tortured.

Kid Cudi should not be apologizing for his depression. He owes his fans nothing; his mental health comes before anything else. Remember: he's a human being before he is an entertainer.


If you or a friend is struggling with depression or another disorder, I encourage both you and them to get help. There is absolutely no shame in getting better!

Finally, if you or someone you know is suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), which is available toll-free, 24/7.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1495
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

904
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200085
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20806
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments