Gigi Lamayne gets real about mental health: 'The new pandemic is suicide'

South African musician Gigi Lamayne says she is worried about the mental health crisis - particularly among the youth.  She made the remarks after sharing a heartbreaking story about someone close to her.

The 'Mashonisa' hitmaker revealed this week that she lost her university friend to suicide. 

"Woke up to news that one of my university mates took his life last night . A motivational speaker and writer. It [doesn’t] make sense… The new pandemic is suicide… a silent genocide… lurking in the struggles of the youth. Slowly emerging … the fire is becoming uncontrollable," she tweeted. 

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Gigi has spoken publicly about her battle with depression in the past. 

In 2018, she attempted to take her own life. Gigi later revealed that she has been struggling with depression since childhood. 

Since then, the 28-year-old has become a mental health activist, helping others to overcome their depression. 

Suicide has soared in recent years with more than 13,000 recorded in South Africa in 2019, according to a World Health Organisation report. 

The local entertainment industry has also been affected. Rapper Riky Rick lost his battle with depression in February 2022. 

Legendary actor Patrick Shai also took his life earlier this year. 

Shortly after Riky's passing, Gigi reminded her social media followers to always be kind, as you never know what battles someone is fighting.

"We are all going through something," she wrote. 

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Main image credit: Twitter/@gigi_lamayne

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