For Silence the Shame founder Shanti Das, breaking the silence around mental health is a deeply personal mission. After stepping away from a high-powered career in the music industry, Das found herself confronting unresolved trauma, including the loss of her father to suicide and, later, the devastating grief of losing other close loved ones. What followed was atarget="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The nonprofit, dedicated to empowering and educating communities on mental health, is doing life-changing work. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, there’s no better time to examine the ripple effect the organization is having on Black communities.

We spoke to Das to get deeper insight into her journey since starting the initiative and the impact her work has had on minority communities. The services they provide run the gamut—wellness seminars, suicide prevention training, community dialogue, and self-care events are all part of their offerings in the Atlanta area and beyond. 

As prioritizing mental wellness, especially in present times. 

ESSENCE: You left what many would call a dream job to pursue mental health advocacy. How has that pivot changed your life?

Shanti Das: The pivot has changed my life in ways I never imagined. I really thought I was going to be the next Sylvia Rhone or Suzanne de Passe, so many of the women who came before me that I looked up to. But I never really dealt with my dad’s suicide. He completed suicide when I was 7 months old.

When things got good in the industry, it was great. But when I started dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety, I didn’t know how to handle it. Never in my wildest dreams would I think I’d be here, 10 years in as a mental health advocate. What has been most humbling is just the outcomes we’ve seen, the stories I’ve been able to share through community, and meeting other people who have had similar experiences, whether they’re in the entertainment industry or not. I really feel like I’m walking in my purpose, and I was able to turn that pain into something meaningful to affect lives in a positive way.

What advice do you have for Black women in high-performing jobs whose careers are negatively impacting their mental health?

First, listen to your body and your mind. It is super important that when those unfamiliar thoughts or feelings happen, or if you start lashing out at people on a regular basis, 9 times out of 10, something is going on with you. Do you have the healthy coping mechanisms and skills to be able to work through those issues and pressures?

That was something that was going on with me. The second thing is really take time in silence in the mornings and think through your life. Go on retreats. Take those vacation days. We have all those vacation days, but I think oftentimes in these high-performing industries and jobs, we feel like if we walk away for too long, somebody’s ready to take our spot. And you know what? Those vultures will always be there waiting for us to slip up or do something wrong and try to step in. But at the same time, you only have one life. 

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