“#Movember” happens every November and is an entire month devoted to raising awareness of the specific health concerns of men – including their mental health. According to statistics provided by the Movember website, 6 out of every 10 suicides worldwide are men. Compared to women, men often struggle more with opening up, substance abuse, and reaching out for help when they need it. At The Lily-Jo Project, we want to change this. Not just every “Movember” but all year round.
We are so excited to announce our new series, “From the Mind of Faith”, featuring insight from rapper, TV presenter, and men’s mental health advocate: Faith Child.
Here’s a quick introduction and interview with Faith Child himself!
About Faith Child
As one of the UK’s top Contemporary Christian Artists, Faith Child has performed for large and small audiences across the UK, Europe, America, and Africa. Passionate about showing the relevance between Christianity and 21st-century living, Faith Child fuses the bible with the beats to share his faith and life with the masses.
Having acquired a Bachelors Honour degree in Performing Arts, Faith Child is big on education and encouraging others to equip themselves in order to reach their full potential. His heart for serving, giving back, and natural ability to connect with people has resulted in him becoming the ambassador for several initiatives, leading him down corridors of power rubbing shoulders with presidents and dignitaries, implementing change, and being a voice for the voiceless.
To officially begin our “From the Mind of Faith” series, we wanted to get to know Faith even better, here’s our interview!
Thinking about your own mental health, what do you struggle with the most?
“I think what I struggle with the most is being hard on myself for not working ‘harder’. I think that derives from the fact I’m often praised for what I do, but I know that I’m not where I want to/could be. I’m also a perfectionist, so I can sit on something or rework it until it is perfect, which in turn takes up time and resources. Fortunately, comparison isn’t something I struggle with, so most my battles are with myself.”
Do you have any routines or rituals for starting/ending your day on a positive note?
“I do my best to start my day with prayer and a good hot shower! That combo is priceless. Starting with prayer allows me to put all the potential worries of the day into God’s hands, and the cleansing from the shower helps to mentally give me a fresh start. During the day, I spend a fair amount of time laughing at memes online and sharing them with my friends. Laughter is good for the soul. I daily remind myself that in as long as there is life, there is hope. So every second and every day is another opportunity to make right our wrongs.”
Aside from making music and getting to travel the world… what do you do for fun?
“I watch a ton load of movies! I often binge on Netflix (I literally have Netflix on in the background as I type this) and I go to the cinema once or twice a week (yes you guessed it, I’m going tonight!). I hang out with my mates and that usually ends up being endless hours of laughter and good counsel, and I like to eat food too. If ever you’re near a Vapiano’s, try out their Pollo Piccante with additional prawn. Thank me later ;-)”
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to your teenage self?
“I was fortunate to have a good support system whilst growing up, so there isn’t much I regret, and all the money I spent in my early years went toward my music career, which I’m reaping the fruit of today. I guess I would remind my younger self that it is good to keep and service friendships, don’t worry too much about the opinion of others, as humans are fickle and I can achieve anything I put my mind too.”
We are so happy to have Faith Child on board as a Lily-Jo Project contributor. Look out for more stories, interviews, and wisdom from him here in 2019!
Can’t wait? Listen and see what Faith is up to on his website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Also! Faith is featured on the Eavesdrop podcast as well. In Episode 4, Lily-Jo and Faith discuss mental health, self-care, and purpose. You can listen to the episode on our website here or anywhere else you get your podcasts.
As we look forward to the future, at The Lily-Jo Project we want you to always remember that you are never alone! Whether it’s utilising the resources provided here, reaching out to someone you trust, or taking the next step in seeking professional help, you are not alone and there are people and resources that can help you.
Take care of each other.
With love, The Lily-Jo Project
Written by: Shelby Hale
