A budding musician recently stated that there needs to be more open communication about mental health and preventing suicide.
Online streams of Ren Gill's songs, in which he discusses his own struggles with mental health issues, have surpassed 20 million in just six months.
His best friend, who took his own life at the age of 19, served as the inspiration for his musical career.
It inspired him to dedicate one of his most recent albums to the young man in a sincere and emotional manner, as well as to raise money for the RNLI.
Ren Gill made a rare trip home to Anglesey after raising money for the RNLI on the island.
Anglesey native Joe Hughes passed away in December 2010.
He was never found alive in the Menai Strait, despite intensive efforts by lifeboat volunteers, friends, and family.
It inspired Ren, 33, to write, sing, and rap about issues related to mental health and emotional distress, he claimed.
The artist, who was raised in the tiny Anglesey village of Dwyran, claimed that discussions about averting self-harm or suicide are suppressed far too frequently.
He said, "I think we live in a world that's quite oversensitive, and sometimes these things get bubble-wrapped for the comfort of everyone else.
"The issue is, I believe, that when you do that, the uncomfortable people find it more difficult to reach out and ask for help because it's kind of a taboo.
"I believe that by creating a safe environment where people feel comfortable discussing taboo subjects like suicide and other difficult subjects, taboo subjects like these won't become as taboo.
Then, which I believe is extremely, extremely important, people will reach out and find help. ”.
In his song Suic!de, which he released in June, Ren reveals a portion of the conversation he wants to have.
Initially, he claimed, it was a look at his own mental health issues, but months after completing the song, he went back to it to add a moving eulogy to his friend Joe Hughes.
I was in tears when I was recording it, and you can even hear it on the record, but I didn't want to change a single thing about it, he said.
Additionally, it led to a campaign that only allowed Ren to visit Anglesey twice since his friend's death, when he moved away to live in Brighton.
After the single was released, Ren started a fundraising effort to give thanks to the Anglesey lifeboat teams for their efforts in the 2010 search for the missing teen.
Approximately five minutes had passed when he arrived, he recalled.
"I recall the reaction, the RNLI's quick arrival on the scene.
For days, we searched beaches near and far in search of him, and the RNLI was always there to assist. ".
A dystopian AI-generated world is featured in Ren's song's music video.
Now that he has almost a million YouTube subscribers, he decided to use his newfound fame to help others by raising $21,000 for the Beaumaris crew.
Ren is currently pursuing his music career, which he is almost shocked to have.
In his early 20s, when he was signed to a major record label, he became severely ill after contracting the tick-borne illness Lyme disease, external, which decimated his immune system.
He finally received treatment, which included an experimental stem cell transplant, following years of misdiagnosis and being dropped by his record label.
Numerous fans flocked to Beaumaris to see Ren perform when he was in town so they could see this budding musician.
His love of music also grew stronger as his health improved.
"It was almost like being born again. I believed my dream was lost," he said.
But after that, my health started to improve, and I resumed releasing music.
It simply started connecting and spreading like wildfire. It's amazing. ".
It leaves Ren with just one more message on the subject of difficulties with mental health.
There was a time when he believed that nothing could get better.
"Therefore, if I were to send a message to anyone who is in a really dark place and feels like they cannot escape it, I would say that sometimes things can happen that you would never expect that make it worthwhile holding on. ".
If this story has affected you or someone you know, or if you are worried about emotional distress, mental health problems, or suicide. The BBC Actionline website offers advice, direction, and assistance.
