Megan Thee Stallion has been honored by The Trevor Project with its Mental Health Champion of the Year Award, recognizing the rapper’s outspoken advocacy for mental wellness and her ongoing efforts to destigmatize mental health conversations, particularly among young people and the LGBTQ+ community.

The award, announced on World Mental Health Day, celebrates individuals who use their platforms to elevate awareness and support for mental health. The Trevor Project, a leading nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth, established the honor in 2021. Previous recipients include Dua Lipa, Janelle Monáe, Lil Nas X, and Dylan Mulvaney.

“I’m honored to receive this year’s Mental Health Champion award from The Trevor Project,” Megan said in a statement. “My goal has always been to use my platform to help break stigmas around mental health and provide resources for those seeking safe spaces to have honest and heartfelt conversations. Mental health impacts all of us, so it’s important to lead with love and empathy.”

Megan also praised The Trevor Project’s work supporting LGBTQ+ youth, adding, “I’m grateful for organizations like The Trevor Project that are committed to spreading awareness and supporting our LGBTQ+ youth in powerful ways.”

The award recognizes both Megan’s public vulnerability and her tangible contributions to mental health advocacy. In 2022, she launched BadBitchesHaveBadDaysToo.com, an online mental wellness hub featuring therapy directories, crisis hotlines, and links to organizations, including The Trevor Project, that provide mental health resources.

Megan’s journey toward mental health advocacy has been shaped by her own experiences. Following the 2020 shooting involving rapper Tory Lanez, which left her physically injured and emotionally shaken, she became more open about her struggles with trauma and depression. The years-long court case that followed, culminating in Lanez’s 2022 conviction, amplified the pressure she faced in the public eye.

Instead of retreating, Megan began speaking out about the emotional cost of fame and the importance of mental well-being. In 2023, she joined the Ad Council’s “Seize the Awkward” campaign, which encourages young people to talk openly about mental health. In her PSA, Megan shared, “I’ve always been told I gotta be strong. Thick-skinned. Tough as nails. But to be everything for everybody, it wears on you. Black don’t crack, they say. But it can. I can. We all can.”

The message resonated widely, especially among young fans who viewed her willingness to show vulnerability as an act of strength. In 2024, she deepened that conversation with her single “Cobra,” a raw depiction of depression and suicidal ideation that doubled as a public acknowledgment of her own healing process. That same year, she participated in California’s “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention initiative emphasizing community care and openness.

According to The Trevor Project’s most recent data, 39% of LGBTQ+ young people have seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, with even higher rates among transgender and nonbinary youth. The organization also reports that Black transgender and nonbinary young people face some of the highest levels of suicide risk, with 21% reporting an attempt within the past year.

Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, praised Megan’s advocacy as both personal and transformative. “Megan Thee Stallion is a mental health champion in every sense of the word,” Black said. “Her honesty, boldness, and love for her community make her an extraordinary role model, especially for Black LGBTQ+ youth, who face some of the highest rates of discrimination and mental health challenges.”

Black added that Megan’s impact extends beyond awareness. “Her activism doesn’t just stop at words; she builds real, tangible resources for vulnerable communities. Her courage and authenticity will echo for generations.”

Megan has long been vocal in her support of LGBTQ+ fans and has also spoken about her own queerness. On “Broke His Heart,” from her upcoming self-titled album Megan, she raps candidly, “I like girls and I like n****s, both of ’em gettin’ ate.” That openness, paired with her commitment to mental health advocacy, has helped redefine what strength and resilience look like in hip-hop, a genre where vulnerability has often been stigmatized.

Even as Megan and her management company, Roc Nation, navigate a lawsuit filed by a former cameraman alleging a hostile work environment, her reputation as an advocate for inclusion and mental wellness remains firmly in focus. “Megan Thee Stallion’s voice is not just powerful, it’s essential,” Black said. “At a time when so many LGBTQ+ young people are being denied access to life-saving support, her visibility and compassion matter more than ever.”