Lil Wayne’s Mental Health Struggles

Lil Wayne’s mental health struggles are revealed during a candid interview.

The rapper opened about his mental health struggles and his suicide attempt when he was just 12 years old. He hopes that his openness will inspire others to seek mental health treatment. Lil Wayne isn’t the only celebrity that’s been open about their suicidal thoughts. You may remember the time that Megan Markle’s suicidal thoughts sparked conversation about mental health, and that’s what Lil Wayne wants to do.

Speaking on Emmanuel Acho’s interview series, “Uncomfortable Conversations”, the 38-year-old rapper says, “I’m hoping I can help anyone else out there who is dealing with mental health problems by being vulnerable. To me, I look at it by being brave and stepping up.”

Back in 2018, Lil Wayne shared that the gunshot wound that was always referred to as “an accident” was actually the result of a suicide attempt. When he was just 10 years old, he started to struggle mentally when he was told he couldn’t rap. At the age of 12, he was worried that his mother wouldn’t allow him to rap anymore after finding out he’d skip classes at school, so he called the police before pulling the trigger of a gun his mother had in her bedroom.

One of the police officers that showed up saved his life and said, “you’re not going to die on me.” Though Lil Wayne’s suicide attempt thankfully wasn’t successful, he still struggles with mental health issues. He’s expressed that praying twice daily has allowed him to reach a better place mentally. On what was learned from Lil Wayne’s suicidal thoughts and attempt, he says that it was a struggle to express himself, especially to a parent who didn’t “speak that language” of mental health vulnerability.

You might not know how to tell the signs of a suicidal person, so we’re listing a few common signs to look out for:

• Talking about death or suicide
• Saying they feel hopeless or empty
• Talking about being unable to find a solution to problems
• Saying they don’t have a reason to continue living
• Believing or saying that other people are better off without them
• Saying big goodbyes to their loved ones

Lil Wayne’s mental health struggles began at just 10 years old, further proving that no one is immune to poor mental health. Although we’d never wish mental illness upon anyone, we’re glad that Lil Wayne is one of the many celebrity mental health advocates who shares their experiences to encourage others in similar situations.

If you’re not sure how to help someone struggling with suicidal thoughts, Banyan’s Mental Health program can help. Do not wait, give us a call us today to learn more: 888-966-9413.  Without the proper treatment, things could get worse.