Logic’s Suicide Prevention song seeks to have big impact for people who need it the most

“1-800-273-8255,” a song by hip hop artist Logic, is campaigning for Suicide Prevention, and shows listeners, in a heartfelt way, that there are people for who care and love for them. Suicide is never the answer to anyone’s problems. It is a desperate but misguided isolation, a suicidal person may find it difficult to find an alternative. Anyone who contemplates this should think about the life they have and how their family cares for them and loves them and that their life has meaning.

Not only does this song have power and symbolism, it’s telling a story — a story about a boy who isn’t accepted because of his sexuality. He runs away from home and thinks about ending his life, but reassuring thoughts come to his head, knowing that there are people who love him. In the middle of the song he calls the – Suicide Prevention – number. The number isn’t said in the song, but the implication is clear. The end of the accompanying music video shows him — getting married to the boy he fell in love with when he was younger. He is with his family and he knows his life is special. To me, this song really has a buoyant message for anyone out there that has bad weather they want to get rid of that and consider a brighter future and love ahead of them. “It’s the very first breath, when your head’s been drowning under water and it’s the lightness in the air”.

Logic was on tour when his album “Everybody” came out. He went from Los Angeles to New York, and went to fans houses to hang out with them. They told him that his music saved their lives. Then he wondered, “They’re actually being serious. I saved their life with my music.” The power that he has as an artist can really change people’s perspectives. This song attempts to do that by telling a story and makes the listener feel connected.

Logic described his idea like this:

What if I took myself out of my comfort zone and made a song about everybody and everybody’s struggles — Including my own; What if I silenced my own fear and I say I’m scared to talk about my race, but I’m gonna do it anyway. I’m gonna persevere. How many lives could I save then?

Overall, this song has a really inspiring voice and a huge amount of positivity in the story it tells. Hopefully it will succeed in being able to save lives of people who need support, love and care from other people around them. Not to mention the great beat!

If you ever have thoughts about harming yourself, please call one of these numbers:

BC Canada Suicide Prevention Number: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
Canada’s Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Suicide Action Montreal: 1-866-277-3553
USA National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
UK Papyrus Hopeline: 0800-068-41-41

More numbers for different areas can be found on this list of suicide crisis lines.