Make It To Tomorrow: Andre Henry on Depression, Suicide, and Hope Through Song

When everything feels unbearable, how do you keep going?
 In this deeply moving conversation, musician and author Andre Henry shares how writing his song “Make It To Tomorrow” helped him survive one of his darkest moments.

Growing up in the Black community, Andre faced the silence and stigma surrounding mental health. Through his art, he began to name his pain — transforming suicidal thoughts into words and melodies that resonated with thousands of listeners.

In this episode, Andre opens up about his lifelong relationship with depression, the systemic and cultural pressures that intensified his struggles, and the powerful tools that help him fight for another day. He and hosts Terry McGuire and Carly McCollow explore what it means to sit with hard emotions, to normalize mental health conversations, and to turn despair into creative expression.

If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t make it to tomorrow, this story reminds you that you’re not alone — and that hope, healing, and connection are still possible.

💬 Primary Topics Covered

• Depression, suicidal ideation, and survival through creativity
• How music can be a form of therapy and emotional release
• The Black community and mental health stigma
• Childhood melancholy and early signs of depression
• The emotional and social weight of racial injustice
• Why some people who want to die don’t actually want death — they want pain to stop
• Understanding triggers, rumination, and hopelessness
• Using safety plans and “mental health toolkits” in crisis moments
• Recognizing depression as a reasonable response to a painful world
• The importance of honest conversations about suicide prevention

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: Giving Voice to Depression and why real conversations matter
01:25 – Meet Andre Henry, musician, author, and survivor
03:12 – Early signs of depression and “melancholy” as a child
04:34 – Stigma and silence around mental health in immigrant and Black communities
05:58 – What inspired “Make It To Tomorrow” and how it became a lifeline
07:36 – The moment Andre wrote the song in crisis
08:13 – The emotional weight of racism and trauma
09:41 – Understanding the difference between wanting to die and wanting pain to stop
12:08 – Managing triggers and internal narratives
13:12 – Using music, exercise, and connection as survival tools
14:46 – Preview of part two: self-hugging, safety plans, and hope
16:22 – Reflections on childhood emotions and family dynamics
17:54 – Depression as a response to a painful world
18:19 – How Andre reframes his story through art and empathy
19:02 – Closing: You’re not alone — depression is a dark road, but not one to walk alone

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