Chances are you have heard Logic’s song “1-800-273-8255” on the radio as it is massively popular and quite the bop.
Robert Bryson Hall II, better known as Logic, wrote this song to bring to light the truly devastating concept of suicide.
Before I delve into the song itself here are a few statistics on suicide found on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s website:
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US
44,965 Americans die of suicide annually
In Alabama, someone dies of suicide every 11 hours
The song “1-800-273-8255” deals with feelings of depression/isolation and serves as a wake-up call in the music industry as many artists are afraid to sing/rap about such topics.
Logic was praised for finally breaking this wall in the music industry and revealing the vulnerabilities a lot of listeners have.
The song can be broken down into three distinct parts. The first part of the song is the point of view of an individual who feels alone and misunderstood. In this part, the person is contemplating ending their life. Then, the point of view shifts to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline dispatcher.
The dispatcher works to convince the hopeless individual that he/she does have a purpose on Earth. The final part of the song demonstrates the hope and recognition the individual experiences after being encouraged to persist.
According to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), after the song was released, the following occurred:
The NSPL received their second highest daily call volume in history
This was 4,573 calls, and many callers cited the song as their reason for calling
Since the release of the song, there has been a 27% increase in calls
The NSPL’s Facebook page has been visited 3x more
Google searches for NSPL increased by 100%
This song may not seem as significant as it is, but it has helped many people understand that they can get help. We live in a high-stress society where sometimes it feels as if there are no options, but there always are.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, you should speak to a trusted adult and/or call the NSPL: 1-800-273-8255
