Styles P Opens Up About Daughter's Suicide & The True Value Of Life - BlackDoctor.org

"I rarely speak on my personal issues and i usually express my pain the through music but today I will share a little with you last month my wife and I lost a daughter and my son lost a sister," Styles P began an open letter posted to Instagram over the weekend. The hip-hop artist, primarily known as 1/3 of the group The Lox, spoke to not only the pain of losing his daughter, but also his growth as a man and how he's come to learn what truly matters in life.

P, who writes that's he's been hustling since the age of 12 to make his dream of being a rapper come true, has lost his brother, father, aunt, grandmother-in-law and countless friends, but there is no pain equal to losing his daughter. "My baby girl took her life and there are no words to describe the day to day pain we have to endure and maintain through," he wrote, "but in dealing with pain you find yourself dealing with the creator and asking questions and going through emotions most would not understand."

He is leaving it all in the Creator's hands and offers this encouragement to his readers: "So I just want to tell yall keep it family 1st and don't get lost and lose your focus the fam is way more important than anything else .... We lost a daughter but gained an angel . Love is love ..ghost"

Read his full letter on the following page and get the warning signs of suicide:

I rarely speak on my personal issues and i usually express my pain the through music but today I will share a little with you last month my wife and I lost a daughter and my son lost a sister . My baby girl took her life and there are no words to describe the day to day pain we have to endure and maintain through but in dealing with pain you find yourself dealing with the creator and asking questions and going through emotions most would not understand. So I'm taking this time out to express a few things to y'all because life is short and we are not promised tomorrow. I like to deal with simple math I know I am 180- 180+ but im trying my best to live on the positive side of things . I have truly tried to live up to the code of being a gentleman and gangster to fullest of my ability. I have been chasing the dollar bill since I was 12 years old I hustled I worked legal jobs and even manage to make my dream of making it as a rapper come true I have popped bottles before it was the thing to do , I have owned beamers, benzos , rovers, trucks etc etc etc I have lived in the ritz ,owned condos , houses traveled a lot of places etc etc etc but I can honestly tell you don't none of that shit add up or equal to love!! I have lost my brother , father , aunt , grandmother in law and too many good friends/ brothers and now my daughter!!!! But the only thing that can be done is to leave it in the creators hands . But I wouldn't be me if I didn't take this time out to say from the most humbled part of my heart and soul to say to yall that the dream most of us chase is not !!I repeat is not !!more valuable than the love you get from your family and friends it may seem like it is but it ain't they print money and make material shit everyday but once you used a love one that's it the spirit is with you but you will miss the physical and Won't be able to speak to them how you want to until you get home to the other side. So I just want to tell yall keep it family 1st and don't get lost and lose your focus the fam is way more important than anything else .... We lost a daughter but gained an angel . Love is love ..ghost

Black Women & Suicide

While suicide in the Black community is still a taboo topic in 2015, Styles P's bravery in discussing it opens up the door once again for a necessary conversation. Last year, the beauty and blogger community was devastated by shocking suicide of Karyn Washington, creator of the inspiring 'For Brown Girls' blog.

While many point to the idea that a Black woman is "too strong" or that she "seems so happy" to ever contemplate let alone actually take her own life, the reality is that Black women do commit suicide. "You never know what a person's journey has been or what it is, and that we have to assume that when we interact with one another that we're all very fragile human beings and that we wear a mask and we have one for every different occasion," Terrie M. Williams, noted mental health activist, said in an interview with HuffPost Live following Washington's death. "The happiest person that you see is someone who could be in so much pain," added Williams.

Suicide Warning Signs

According to the US HHS Office of Minority Health:

Adult blacks are 20 percent more likely to report serious psychological distress than adult whites.
Adult blacks living below poverty are two to three times more likely to report serious psychological distress than those living above poverty.
Adult blacks are more likely to have feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness than are adult whites.
And while blacks are less likely than whites to die from suicide as teenagers, black teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide than are white teenagers (8.2 percent v. 6.3 percent)

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention states that people who kill themselves exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do. The more warning signs, the greater the risk. Here is their list of what to look and listen for:

Talk

If a person talks about:

Killing themselves.
Having no reason to live.
Being a burden to others.
Feeling trapped.
Unbearable pain.

Behavior

A person’s suicide risk is greater if a behavior is new or has increased, especially if it’s related to a painful event, loss, or change.

Increased use of alcohol or drugs.
Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online for materials or means.
Acting recklessly.
Withdrawing from activities.
Isolating from family and friends.
Sleeping too much or too little.
Visiting or calling people to say goodbye.
Giving away prized possessions.
Aggression.

Mood

People who are considering suicide often display one or more of the following moods.

Depression.
Loss of interest.
Rage.
Irritability.
Humiliation.
Anxiety.

Ending Mental Health Stigma

Culturally, we are accustomed to handling pain and trauma and "getting through it." We're more likely to say, "I"m tired," than to say "I'm depressed," or to turn to prayer before counseling. Learning to be more transparent and vulnerable about how we feel is part of what's necessary to heal as a community and break down mental health stigmas. "It's helpful to say that, 'My spirit is low today,' because then that gives another person permission to say that they're feeling that way as well," said Williams.

Self care IS health care. How transparent will YOU be today?

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or are concerned about the life of another, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255.