ATLANTA — An Atlanta based nonprofit is marking its 8th annual National Silence the Shame Day today, continuing its mission to educate communities about mental wellness and break the stigma surrounding mental health care.
Founded by former music industry executive Shanti Das, Silence the Shame was born several years ago from deeply personal struggles.
Das says her turning point came in September 2015, when she contemplated ending her life and ultimately sought professional help encouraged by her sister and her pastor, Rev. Raphael Warnock.
“Oftentimes, we were told just to pray our problems away,” Das said. “We shouldn’t have to sit in those feelings and feel like there is no hope, or there is no help. What we do is try to provide the help and the hope so that you can get the support you need.”
Since then, Das has turned her healing into purpose, reaching people across the country with programs, events, and community outreach aimed at normalizing mental health conversations, especially in underserved communities.
“I did start this organization out of my own pain and from my own testimony so that I could help people to get the help that they need if they were ever in a situation that I was in,” Das said. “It runs deep with my dad, my best friend, my own personal and story. If I can help save one life or a thousand lives, or even more, that’s what its all about.”
In February, Silence the Shame and the City of Atlanta partnered to bring awareness to mental health and the 988 Crisis Lifeline in the community.
National Silence the Shame Day, observed annually on May 5, encourages open conversations around mental health, emotional wellness, and the importance of seeking help.
The Atlanta-based organization also reminds those in crisis that dialing 9-8-8, the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, can offer immediate support.
In September of 2024, the organization also hosted a college empowerment summit at Morehouse College to provide students and community members with mental health and suicide prevention resources.
“Instead of calling 9-1-1, just dial 9-8-8 and they will help you deescalate the crisis. Then they will give you the tools that you need to connect with therapists or inpatient care if you need it or an outpatient facility,” she added.
Das said the suicide prevention lifeline is a helpful resource that many people aren’t fully aware of.
In December of 2024, Das published a holiday pocket guide on navigating grief during the holidays. It included 20 helpful tips for honoring your feelings, working towards healing and seeking support.
Das said there is still a lot of stigma that exists in communities, particularly in vulnerable populations and under-served communities.
Das reminds people it is okay to seek help when you need it.
“We work really hard at Silence the Shame to provide people with healthier ways to cope so that they understand that suicide should not be an option,” she said.
Das is gratified to see that the work that Silence the Shame continues to do has made a difference because people have told her how much it has helped them.
“Whether it is a reply to a social media post or I run into someone in the airport and they say, ‘my husband is alive because of the work that you are doing,’ or because of programs that I have attended, I knew it was okay to go and get help,” she said.
For resources, toolkits, and more information, visit www.silencetheshame.com.
WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons contributed to this story.
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