Suicide Hotline Calls Tripled After Logic's Grammy Performance

Rapper Logic's message of suicide prevention has been working. According to the Huffington Post, calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline tripled after the artist's performance at the Grammy Awards last month of “1-800-273-8255." The song is named after the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's phone number.

The organization took to social media to thank him personally. "We were so moved by @Logic301's performance. Thank you to all of the survivors for your strength, we commend you, and to Logic for sharing our lifesaving resources. There is hope & there is help. You are never alone."

"Logic's performance during the 2018 Grammys was an incredible moment in suicide prevention," Frances Gonzalez, director of communications for the suicide prevention organization, said to CNN. "By sharing a message of hope and taking the stage with individuals who have been personally affected by suicide, Logic demonstrated on a global scale that healing is happening every day for people in crisis, and that there is help available."

In the song, Logic gives a message of empowerment and hope to those contemplating suicide. "I want you to be alive. I want you to be alive. You don't gotta die today. You don't gotta die," he says on the song. The rapper says he never realized how powerful that message would be.“In my mind, I was like, ‘Man I wasn’t even trying to save anybody’s life,'” the rapper said to Genius about creating the track previously. “And then it hit me — the power that I have as an artist with a voice. I wasn’t even trying to save your life. Now what could happen if I actually did?”

The track was created in partnership with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

"We were honored to learn the song would not only be about a Lifeline caller, but would be named after us. We’re still excited about its possibilities. We believe this is a great example of how it is possible for artists and the media to address suicide thoughtfully and creatively, alongside people in the field. Logic’s song is an opportunity to make the conversation about suicide a conversation about how people can find hope and that support is available for anyone that needs it," Gonzalez told Billboard earlier.

As CNN adds, this isn't the first time that suicide prevention received a boost following a high-profile appearance by Logic. According to National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Director John Draper, the Lifeline experienced the "second-highest call volume in the history of our service," when the track (featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid) was released in April 2017. A few months later, there was a 50% increase in call volume following Logic's performance at the MTV's Video Music Awards. 

[Photo: Getty Images]