Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director of WHO, thanked Stromae on Twitter and the TF1 channel for highlighting mental health in a particularly commented performance by the singer, Sunday evening during the television news.
Sunday evening, guest on TF1’s television news, Stromae not only unveiled his new song, “L’Enfer”, he also offered a poignant testimony about depression, from which he himself suffered . “Suddenly, I sometimes had thoughts of suicide. I am not very proud of it. It is sometimes believed that this is the only way to silence them. These thoughts that make me go through hell, ”he sings in the song. His performance was filmed in sequence on the set of the JT. With his gaze fixed on the camera, the Belgian artist offered a poignant testimony on a subject that is still very often taboo.
Following this passage on the first channel of France, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director of WHO, thanked him on Twitter. “Many thanks to Stromae for bringing up the difficult subject of suicide in your last album. So important to ask for help if you need it, ”he wrote, accompanying his post with an explanatory note on how to help with“ negative thoughts ”.
Thank you @stromae for raising the difficult topic of #suicide on your latest album. So important to reach out for help if you are struggling and to support those who need help.https://t.co/A4kqcE4VBlpic.twitter.com/Mmk7eg0YRT
– Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 12, 2022
“Good mental health is absolutely fundamental”
The boss of the World Health Organization is particularly committed to mental health. In 2018, he made this cause “one of those for which actions must be accelerated”. A year later, WHO launched the Special Initiative for Mental Health, which is to run over a five-year period from 2019 to 2023. “Good mental health is absolutely fundamental to health and well-being. – to be in general, ”said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in October 2020, cited by the Organization’s website . “Covid-19 has interrupted essential mental health services around the world when they are needed most. World leaders must act quickly and decisively to invest more in mental health programs that save lives during the pandemic and beyond. ”
It is also not the first time that he has thanked an artist for his emphasis on mental health. In December 2020, Jin, one of the group members BTS , had unveiled a song “Abyss” in which he addressed his discomfort. He accompanied this title with a letter explaining that he had suffered a burnout after the success of the hit “Dynamite”. “Seokjin, thank you for speaking candidly and openly about your recent burnout experience. Glad you tell people about it, see a therapist, and get the support you need. #Abyss is such a beautiful and moving song, ”Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on Twitter at the time.
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