Ookay Shares Mental Health Battles During National Suicide Prevention Week -[Read]

Dubstep DJ and producer Ookay opened up about his personal struggles with his mental health in a Notes screenshot posted to his Twitter.

Warning: Self-harm and difficult mental health topics are discussed below.

Well renowned Los Angeles based DJ Ookay got very intimate and shed some light on his personal experiences with mental health crises. His tweets came during the United States’ National Suicide Prevention Week, wherein many artists and industry workers have been advocating, sharing resources, or sharing personal stories of their own struggles with their mental health. 

Ookay captioned the screenshots with the Suicide Prevention Hotline number, and goes on to share that he was admitted to the Adventist Health White Memorial in Los Angeles in 2018 during a tour break for suicidal ideation during a mental breakdown. Ookay goes on to open up about an attempt at ending his life as well, and his experience when he was admitted to the hospital. 

Many other artists and fans flooded Ookay‘s mentions to show their solidarity and support to his all too common struggles. Ever since the tragic suicide of globally beloved DJ Avicii, and more recently the death of multidisciplinary producer Pierce Fulton, mental health conversations have thankfully become more common in the electronic music industry. Regardless, there is still much to be done when it comes to mental health being at the forefront of social discourse. There is still heavy stigma around speaking up about your experiences, but artists with major platforms like Ookay, Cray, Armin van Buuren, and many more have been making great progress at normalizing talking about such subversive topics. 

It’s important to consider that someone’s mental health is almost never as it appears on the outside. Ookay’s music is filled with love, light, and happiness, yet has had very private, longstanding struggles with his mental health, that almost bested him. Avicii was one of the most well known, respected, loved and successful DJ’s in the world at the time he took his life. It’s very important and amazing to see artists with such large followings speaking up about an issue that affects every single person on earth and has claimed millions of lives already. 

If you are struggling, need resources, or are having a crisis, utilize the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s website for extensive resources, live support, and more. You are not alone! We are lucky to be part of such a vibrant and supportive community that would jump if anyone was in crisis. As Ookay said, “It’s a dark hole to climb out of but there is a light. And you need to hold on to the light”. 

Exron Music Staff

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