J Molley has been navigating depression and suicidal thoughts

J Molley’s been navigating depression and suicidal thoughts since he was a teenager, so when he explains the mental breakdown that culminated in him being admitted to a psychiatric ward, his tone is frank and calm.

It’s late March when we speak, only about four weeks since his friend and mentor Riky Rick succumbed to his own depression and allegedly committed suicide at his home in Midrand. A day before his death, Riky called him to check up on him and the two spoke about Riky’s own struggle with depression.

The following day, when he heard that Riky had died, he says he wishes he could’ve somehow intervened and said something to him.

The 23-year-old’s own near brush with death came after suicidal thoughts had become a daily thing over a few months. There came a day where I think I’d lost my phone and everything on it.

“I lost access to my Instagram, so I thought my career was over and it just set me off the rails, and I basically tweeted that I was going to kill myself and I was ready do it that night,” he says.

A few people in his inner circle arrived at his place shortly afterwards, to find him intoxicated with his hand bleeding, and rushed him to the hospital. And you’re just constantly comparing each other to each other, looking at other people and saying why don’t I have that or why am I not that big or why am I not that happy. And comparison is the thief of joy,” he says.

One thing that he revels in is his fans drawing inspiration from his journey. It keeps me motivated. I like the fact that I get messages from people telling me that I help them through their depression, through their anxiety, through their suicidal thoughts. It keeps me going, for sure,” he says.

It’s been two weeks since J Molley released his latest project, “Almost Dead” a triumphant and reflective mixtape that sees him sharing his experiences through this entire ordeal over the past year or so.

Source: People

In other news – Singer Prince Benza arrested in Botswana

Makhadzi’s 1 Woman show in Botswana sparked a lot of controversy over the weekend.

 

While many people are singing her praises for becoming the first South African artist to fill up a stadium in the country, Limpopo artist Prince Benza was reportedly arrested in the country prior to his performance alongside Makhadzi. Learn more