Konshens Speaks On His Mental Health Journey

The topic of mental health care has been one that resonates with Dancehall deejay Konshens, especially since he has had to fight through his fair share of depression, and cope with the loss of his older brother to suicide.

In a recent interview with DancehallMag, Konshens, 36, expressed that even his recently released 18-track album Red Reign is a testimony about his journey to a better mental state.

“It’s (the album) about having to pick myself up out of a dark hole and making progress with that. Still not fully out enuh, but you’ve made progress, and my fans get to listen to me tell that story through the different songs,” Konshens said.

Red Reign is his fifth studio album which was officially released on November 12. Through skillful manipulation of various genres such as hip hop, trap, Afrobeat, and dance with traditional reggae and dancehall, the album shows his versatility. The project also features collaborations from Davido, Stefflon Don, Rvssian, Dre Island, Kaelyn Kastle, Kemar Highcon, and Jesse Royal, and Spice.

Meanwhile, Konshens admitted that the pandemic forced him to face truths that he might have been running from.

“I realized that nuff things weh me think me have under control, I really don’t. You have to choice but to deal with certain things because you don’t have the same access to leisure that you did before the pandemic. It (the pandemic) puts you in unfamiliar situations and makes you realize that there is a lot more work to be done (internally),” he told DancehallMag.

It’s been over five years since Konshens’ brother Delmark ‘Delus’ Spence committed suicide. However, the pain remains fresh for the Simple Blessings artist, who also said the incident opened his eyes to the importance of prioritizing mental wellness.

“I would really encourage people to try and be as vocal as possible about stuff like anxiety and depression. I have realized that I have a major issue being alone. It’s one of my deepest issues, especially after my brother died. So, the more vocal you can be, the better it is,” the deejay said.

Delus, who was also an artist took his own life back in June 2016, a few days after his 35th birthday. The brothers shared a close relationship, and since Delus’ passing, Konshens has released the track Days Of My Life in his memory. Konshens also got a portrait of his brother tattooed on the top right of his back.

So far, Red Reign has been doing well by the deejay’s estimations. His ultimate hope is that it will bring positive vibes as the world continues to contend with the novel coronavirus.

“My aim is always to bring ‘feel good’ energy to people. I want to see people having fun; I also wanted to see people living it up. There are so many serious issues happening right now, so I’m happy to see people enjoying themselves. The girl dem love it,” Konshens said.

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If you or someone you know may be contemplating suicide, then we encourage you to contact a local Suicide Prevention hotline, counselor, or mental health professional.