Mental health stigma kills more than we realize, especially in Black communities where vulnerability is seen as weakness. But what if our deepest struggles could become our greatest strengths? What if vulnerability was actually the key to healing not just ourselves, but others too?

👉 Find the full playlist of episodes HERE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6l9CNQoSFdYrSofAAHBcTdsnpYk8iYg ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kenneth Erhahon, known as Shocka, is a British rapper and mental health advocate from Tottenham, London, best known as one-third of the grime collective Marvell. After facing severe mental health challenges—including multiple hospitalizations and a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia—he transformed his personal struggles into a mission to raise awareness about mental health, particularly within the Black community. Through his music, public speaking, and advocacy, Shocka promotes vulnerability as strength, emphasizing self-love, forgiveness, and the importance of connection to overcome loneliness and stigma. His album "Vulnerability Is The New Cool" reflects his mission to destigmatize mental health struggles.

Today, expect to learn:

• Why Shocka was sectioned four times and how the mental health system failed him

• How loneliness has become a hidden epidemic killing more people than physical diseases

• Why the spiritual dimension of mental health is overlooked due to stigma around "non-normal" experiences

• How forgiveness of self and others became foundational to his healing process

• Why vulnerability needs to become "cool," especially for Black men

• How music serves as a healing instrument beyond what words can accomplish

• What it means to live as a "key" that opens doors rather than a "padlock" that keeps them shut

• How celebrating small wins and keeping commitments to yourself builds mental resilience

• Why sharing imperfect truths publicly counters perfectionism and reduces stigma

Mental health sectioning involves involuntary detention in psychiatric facilities under mental health laws when someone is deemed a risk to themselves or others. Paranoid schizophrenia is characterized by delusions and hallucinations, often involving persecution themes. Grime is a genre of electronic music that emerged from London in the early 2000s, characterized by aggressive lyrics and syncopated beats.

W H A T T O D O N E X T :

GUEST LINKS ~

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/shocka_artist/?hl=en

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/76fFlbX737z6RGZrTJ5yY5

HOST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SUBSTACK: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

SOCIALS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com/links

SHOW LINKS ~

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com/lost-and-searching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@lostandsearchingpodcast

ALL EPISODES (Spotify): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lostandsearching

ALL EPISODES (Apple): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-and-searching/id1771369908⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sources: [1] Shocka's advocacy work and personal journey [2] Impact Over Numbers album (2020) [3] TED talks and public speaking engagements [4] Vulnerability Is The New Cool album and mission

Jargon Buster:

• Sectioning: Involuntary detention under mental health laws

• Paranoid Schizophrenia: Mental health condition involving delusions and hallucinations

• Grime: Electronic music genre from London characterized by aggressive lyrics

• Mental Health Advocacy: Public efforts to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health