Mental Health is a topic not often discussed in the Black community. There is a lot of stigma attached to depression, anxiety-and any other mental illness-which leaves no room to discuss the ways to assist if you do find yourself in a situation with poor mental health. If you are battling a mental illness, self-care is 100% guaranteed to be a part of your treatment program. And if you aren’t, self-care is a great way to help prevent you from getting to that point.

My favorite form of self-care is..wait for it..a Beyonce concert! Yes, I’m a day-one BeyHive member, but I have a very eclectic taste in music. It only took 3 years for me to be on this earth before music and I developed an unbreakable bond. Music is literally a universal language. It has the power to invoke essentially every emotion. From happiness and sadness, to excitement and grief. Whatever you’re feeling, there’s a song for it.

Here’s a 50 song playlist of my favorite self-care jams:

Solange – Borderline (An Ode to Self-Care)

An uptempo groove that will make you move. Especially when you’re just trying to get away.



BJ The Chicago Kid – Falling On My Face

When you can’t see it coming down your eyes, you listen to the song cry.



Alicia Keys – Brand New Me

A coming out anthem when you’ve transitioned from a good you to a better you.



Marcus Miller ft Corinne Bailey Rae – Free

An old school jam that will free your soul.

Nicki Minaj ft Beyonce – Feeling Myself

Your happiness comes from within, beloved.

Stars Go Dim – You Are Loved

An inspirational reminder of the Love from above.

Sade – Soilder of Love

Even when your heart feels empty, it might surprise you to find what’s still inside.

The Weeknd – Starboy

Fellas, your happiness comes from within too.

Kehlani – Be Alright

It gets tough sometimes, but you gon’ be alright!

Shy Glizzy – Awwsome

Trap stars aren’t exempt from mental illness, here’s one for you my friends.

The rest of the list:

Kid Cudi – Wounds

Karen Clark-Sheard – Higher Ground

Childish Gambino – Have Some Love

Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World

Beyonce – Flawless

Switchfoot – Dare You to Move

Solange – Cranes In The Sky

Koryn Hawthorne – Won’t He Do It

Kendrick Lamar – I Love Myself

Pink – Fuckin Perfect

NF – No Name

Alicia Keys – Superwoman

Demi Lovato – Skyscaper

Nicki Minaj – Fly

Anderson.Paak – The Dreamer

Destiny’s Child – So Good

DJ Khaled ft Beyonce & Jay-Z – Shining

The All-American Rejects – Move Along

The Goo-Goo Dolls – Iris

Lifehouse – Broken

Coldplay – The Scientist

Logic – 1-800-273-8255

Yolanda Adams & Donnie McClurkin – The Prayer

Kelly Price – Healing

Jonny Diaz – Breathe

Mary J Blige – No More Drama

Lloyd – Tru

Bibi Bourelly – Ballin

Tenth Avenue North – You Are More

for KING & COUNTRY – Shoulders

Danny Gokey – Tell Your Heart to Beat Again

Meek Mill ft Drake – Going Bad

Lil Wayne ft Eminem – Drop the World

Miley Cyrus – The Climb

Lil Duval ft Snoop – Smile (Living My Best Life)

Sara Bareilles – Brave

John Mayer – War of My Life

Prince – (There’ll Never B) Another Like Me

Pink – Try

Nina Simone – Feelin Good

There’s so many amazing songs, I’m sure I missed some that would have been a great fit. Feel free to comment with some of your favorites too!

Peace, Love & Healing,

Chanel