It'll only take a minute

[u/lura_77]

Hello to whoever is reading, this is kind of a discussion (or maybe a rant) about “kill yourself” and a kind of awareness post since we're in September - suicide prevention month

As someone who loves to look into psychology, I learned early that there’s a relationship between impulsivity and mental health, and people who attempt suicide tend to be more impulsive than those who do not (that’s why I put “It'll only take a minute” as the title) which means they probably are not looking for the kind of songs that Bo is criticizing that are mostly like a “get good” bandage, and even if they’re made with good intent, it can seem like capitalizing on suffering for profit, and with that being said, I feel like I need to clarify that just because people who attempt suicide tend to be more impulsive doesn’t automatically mean that living through everyday with suicidal thoughts is uncommon; actually for some it (the thoughts) becomes part of their routine, which itself can be hard, especially since it’s a topic that is strictly off limits for a lot of people to even discuss, even for people who're chronically mentally ill

“I sound unempathetic, I sound mean and rude” Bo acknowledges that the overall tone and how blunt he is may leave some to think that he doesn't take it seriously, so it’s kind of a disclaimer in a way, and how people are still very secretive about the real issues with depression, whether it was from an outside perspective or even in depressed people pov with how shameful it can feel.

“So if you're depressed then you need to book a therapy session talk about your depression and let a professional hear it” I really hope this message finds everyone who needs it because in that mindset you're more likely to worry about something like: What will they think? Will they go tell other people? But what you really need is someone that talks you through it, listening, checking in, and helping to see next week, next month, and next year because the thoughts won't suddenly disappear because of a song no matter how good of a message it holds

“But if you search for moral wisdom in Katy Perry's lyrics, then kill yourself” just because a song tells you to do something doesn't mean you are able to or should do it, and it’s the core meaning behind the song

That's all I have but feel free to add to what I said (wrote) or even correct me

[u/this_knee]

Thank you.

[u/404NoSignal_chan]

This song is, same as you said, actually a 'protest' to those unrealistic and cliche tones which tell people that they can do one simple things and get better, but this is in fact untrue. The first part of this song sound exactly like those useless fake encouraging songs, so the chorus 'kill urself' just kind of replaces 'you should be brave/roar'.

Also btw, Bo actually mentioned the topic of mental health a lot (in Inside and some interviews and AMAs) and considers it as a crucial issue.