Depression and anxiety have plagued all ages, races, and backgrounds for centuries. In the past, we have viewed depression as a dirty little secret and something that people are not comfortable speaking about. Today, however, more and more are speaking about their battle with depression. Keith Anthoni is one such person who has spoken out about his battle with depression and anxiety.

Keith Anthoni is a local hip hop artist who has created a musical project entitled, Getaway: The Project. According to Keith, the mission behind this project is, “to allow people who don’t know me or don’t know what I’ve been through to understand me and my mental health issues. I battle with depression and anxiety, and I wanted to show people who fight the same battle they’re not alone.” Says Keith.

I asked Keith, what makes him as a 20-year-old young man so passionate about speaking about such a heavy topic, even dedicating his music to bringing awareness to depression?

“Mental Health is important; I’ve had a couple friends of mine kill themselves and every day I think what more I could have done to prevent that. Nobody wants to hear about someone going out like that, so to hear it about someone you care about, it’s a different type of hurt.” He shared!

Keith also hopes to help encourage people to check on your friends and family. Because you can’t always see outwardly that someone is hurting, you may think someone is happy, but inside they are dealing with unimaginable pain. In addition, make sure you are taking care of your own mental health and getting the help you need to make sure you are okay.

To check out Keith’s project, you can find him on Instagram and his music is available on all platforms under Keith Anthoni.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger or go to the nearest emergency room. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En español 1-888-628-9454