Ep. 54: A Conversation About Black Mental Health with Kyrus Keenan Westcott

Kyrus Keenan Westcott is a Mental Health Advocate and Neurospicy Humorist who is revolutionizing how we talk about mental health. Through his platform, The Vibe With Ky — with over a million followers on social media – he’s smashing stigmas surrounding mental illness by getting people to open up an honest dialogue. His podcast, blog, and social pages are constantly abuzz with powerful advice and insight from esteemed professionals like Wit & Reason Mental Health & Consultation Services, Healthy Minds & More Counseling Services, Boredwalk, and Somethings – all of whom are true game changers in modern human understanding.

 

Hey everyone! Welcome to today’s episode of the Wright Conversations Podcast! For today’s episode, I’m joined by Kyrus Keenan Westcott to talk about the gap in mental health research, mental healthcare in underprivileged communities, and how deeply the system is rigged towards white men. We also talk about Ky’s diagnosis, when people say they don’t see color, how white listeners can help destigmatize mental health in POC communities, and get Ky’s advice to parents of Neurospicy kids.

Let’s delve in!

 

In this Episode You’ll Learn:

• [01:19] A bit about Kyrus.
• [02:30] The mental health stigma.
• [03:40] The lack of representation in research.
• [06:48] Mental healthcare in underprivileged communities.
• [07:56] Ky’s diagnosis.
• [10:17] Ky’s advice to his younger self.
• [12:24] The racist system.
• [17:41] See my color.
• [20:44] Sitting with the discomfort.
• [22:39] What can white listeners do to destigmatize mental health in black communities?
• [25:22] Ky’s advice to parents of kids displaying symptoms of ADHD/Depression/Anxiety.
• [27:47] If younger Ky had the space to express his feelings.
• [31:30] Ky’s words of wisdom.

 

Quotes:

• “It’s okay to open up and feel the way that you’re feeling.” [11:35]
• “I want you to see my color.” [17:43]
• “The one thing that everybody can do is listen.” [25:05]
• “It’s okay to not have the answers.” [27:41]
• “My present self is proud of who I am.” [29:09]
• “I am the one thing in life I can control.” [31:49]

 

Connect with Kyrus Keenan Westcott

Website:            thevibewithky.com.

Instagram:          @thevibewithky.

YouTube:           Kyrus Keenan.

Twitter:              @TheVibeWithKy.

TikTok:              @thevibewithky.

LinkedIn:            Kyrus Keenan Westcott.

 

Connect with Rachel Wright

Website:            https://rachelwrightnyc.com

Instagram:          @thewright_rachel

Twitter:              @thewrightrachel

 

Resources

www.somethings.com.

 

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