This week’s segment focused on suicide awareness following the death of former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst. Amerykah Jones hosts the segment on 104.7 The Drop.
DENVER — A Denver-based radio host is raising awareness about mental health, particularly in minority communities.
Amerykah Jones with 104.7 The Drop hosts a weekly “Therapy Thursday” from 9 am to 10 am Jones brings in mental health professionals to discuss issues, talk to listeners and point them in the right direction.
“This is something that I started when we opened this station. I wanted a place where we could really reflect mental health in communities of color, and it’s very important because I feel like these are conversations that I feel like we’re not having.” Jones said.
This week’s theme focused on suicide awareness. He wanted to reach people after the deaths of Cheslie Kryst and Regina King’s son Ian Alexander Jr.
“I wanted to create a lounge-on-air atmosphere, have some questions, look up information and get some details and feel like you were really a part of this movement with The Drop,” Jones said.
This week, licensed counselor Michelle Simmons joined her on the segment. Simmons normally joins her in the studio at least once a month, but there are others who participate in the segment as well.
“Things have been so overwhelming for everyone,” Jones said. “So I thought this would be a way to send a message of normalizing and encouraging mental health care to more people. So it’s really about exposing more people to the benefits of therapy, but also eliminating part of the stigma and shame that usually follows that.
Listeners can call in during a live segment or they can speak to Simmons and ask that the call not be broadcast on the radio.
“It’s my prayer that someone’s life was changed by something they heard or thought or reconsidered, and that’s all I can hope for,” Simmons said.
Saying you’re not okay is not an easy thing to say. Simmons and Jones hope they can reach people who may not be able to take that step, or encourage those who have been thinking about getting help to do so.
If you are having suicidal thoughts or need to talk to someone, you can contact Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-8255. It’s a 24/7 hotline. You can also text “TALK” to 38255. They will direct you to the nearest crisis center or connect you with someone on the phone to talk right away.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS
