Baton Rouge advocate starts Mental Health Monday to uplift BRCC students

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) – Just days after authorities said former LSU football star Kyren Lacy died by suicide, students at BRCC’s Mid-City campus got a lesson about mental health.

Students smiled and danced to the sounds of Christian rapper “Sicka Sin” at the first “Mental Health Monday” at Baton Rouge Community College.

“It’s very important because mental health is a real thing,” said Matt “Sicka Sin” Johnson. “A lot of people are going through different things – suicide, depression, anxiety, stress. Any time we get to pour into people and let them know, ‘Hey, it’s okay. There are outlets that you can reach out to help you get out of this mess.’”

Event organizer Tara Wicker said she’s been working on putting this day together for months, and it’s especially important for the community in the wake of Lacy’s death.

Wicker says, “The impact, especially in the Baton Rouge area, with what recently happened with Kyren Lacy, my first thought was, ‘What was he going through, who was in his circle? Was he comfortable having a conversation?’ because it was so obvious that he must have been in a lot of pain, and at some point, felt there was no hope.”

“I want to pray for his family and everyone involved,” said Johnson. “It’s a touchy subject.”

Students who attended the event were treated to lunch and conversation with several community leaders, all sharing their own personal stories of how they overcame mental health struggles – in hopes of encouraging dialogue.

“My hope and goal is that the hearts and minds are touched in a way that’s transformative,” Wicker mentioned.

Wicker said she plans to continue the “Mental Health Monday” tradition on different campuses at BRCC.

LSU acknowledged the death of its former student athlete Kyren Lacy, releasing a statement saying in part: “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones, as well as his former teammates and coaches impacted by his passing.”

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