May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The first week of May 2022 is not over and news of two young, seemingly exuberant young women with bright futures ahead of them committing suicide has rocked the nation. 16 year old Kailia Posey, former Toddlers & Tiara’s reality star, will be forever immortalized as the “Grinning Girl”, a meme where she displays a mischievous smile.
Kailia’s mother confirmed her death by suicide on Wednesday.
“Although she was an accomplished teenager with a bright future ahead of her, unfortunately in one impetuous moment, she made the rash decision to end her earthly life.”
On Thursday, the Southern University campus was rocked by the death of freshman student-athlete Arlana Miller.
Dear Jaguars,
Our entire campus community is deeply saddened by the untimely death of Arlana Miller, a freshman who was majoring in agriculture on the Baton Rouge campus. Arlana was a native of Texas and one of our Southern University cheerleaders. pic.twitter.com/FJ7qMPTamn
— Southern University (@SouthernU_BR) May 5, 2022
Ms. Miller posted a suicide note to her Instagram sparking an outpouring of online mourning, as well as confessions of similar mental exhaustion and suicidal ideation.
When you can relate to what Arlana Miller was saying hits different. Days I feel like life is just too much & I can’t keep on I’m afraid it will take over me someday, being strong is all you hear, it’s hard to keep being strong when you’re tired.
— Airi (@airiiiib) May 6, 2022
Arlana Miller got me boohoo crying at 7am.. it just hit different when you understand exactly where she came from, being at that moment mentally several times. RIP
— Cjay Montana (@TheCjayMontana) May 5, 2022
Each week in May, Urban Media Today will post new resources and articles that focus on mental health advocacy and support. Our commitment to mental health has been a priority for UMT since its inception. Don’t miss some of archived articles and podcasts:
- Entertainment Industry Group Takes Responsibility for Preventing ‘Suicide Contagion’
- Mental Health Experts Offer Insight on How to Overcome Anxiety
- Ian Alexander Jr.’s death reignites a much-needed mental health dialogue
- Black mental health professionals on dealing with loss, COVID-19, and racial trauma in the New Year
- Maintaining Emotional Health and Wellbeing During COVID-19
- Give It Up with Margo Hinton Podcast (8/16/20): Steel Smiling : Mental Health Issues Vol 01
- Give It Up with Margo Hinton Podcast (8/24/20): Steel Smiling : Vol 2
- The Hey Girl Hey Podcast w/ Special Guest Carol Washington(4/18/20) [AUDIO]
- The Hey Girl Hey Podcast: Dr. Judith Moore, Black Women Roundtable and Kenneth Huston, NAACP President for PA State (5/17/20) [AUDIO]
Wishing you good mental health,
Urban Media Today Editors & Staff
Photo Credit: Gemma Chua-Tran/Unsplash