Doechii’s meteoric rise comes as no surprise. Born Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, Doechii first rose to fame on TikTok following her viral song Yucky Bucky Fruitcake. This year, her mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal won Best Rap Album at the Grammys, making her one of only three women to have won an award in that category. Meanwhile, her song Anxiety, originally recorded in her bedroom in 2019, sparked a viral TikTok dance trend that recreated a heartwarming scene from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air between Will Smith and Ashley Banks (Tatyana Ali).
Doechii has an authenticity and raw energy that you can’t help but love, but she’s more than just a rising star with chart-topping hits – she’s proving that she’s a force for change.
On March 28, Doechii took to Instagram to announce her new initiative – Anxiety is Watching Me – sharing the following caption: “Thank you for all of the support you’ve given my song Anxiety; now let me support YOU. Share your stories, lend a listening ear, or browse through our support communities to get the support you need anonymously.”
Launched in time for National Minority Health Month, Anxiety is Watching Me is a resource hub inspired by Doechii’s own mental health struggles, which she has been transparent about. Having dealt with anxiety firsthand, she created this platform to offer support to others and build a community for anyone facing their own struggles, so that they don’t have to “walk the path alone.”
In addition to sharing the links to various helpful resources, the website provides a form that users can complete, where they can share what has helped them with anxiety, along with any resources, coping mechanisms and words of advice that can help someone else.
Congratulations, Doechii, for not only becoming a star but for using your voice and platform to champion mental health and well-being at a time when such advocacy could not be more critical. Through her music, and now this initiative, Doechii is not only creating a safe space for people to connect with others facing similar battles, but also showing that mental health matters.
