A YORK hip-hop artist is planning to use his music to get people talking about mental health and help prevent suicides.

Musician Kritikal Powers has joined forces with Golden Firs, a singer-songwriter who has supported the likes of James Bay and Emeli Sandé, to create a song with the message that ‘it is ok to speak about mental health.’

The song will be available to buy on online platforms including iTunes and Apple Music to raise money for national UK charity PAPYRUS, which aims to give young people hope and prevent suicides.

It will be performed at North Yorkshire venues as part of “The Liberation tour,” which will be launched on November 10 at Forty-Five Vinyl Café in York’s Micklegate, at an evening event featuring a variety of artists and genres.

Kritikal Powers, whose music has been played on on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, said suicide was the leading cause of death of people aged under 35 in the UK.

“It is important that we highlight this issue and by expressing my own experiences of mental health, I hope that it will inspire people to share their stories and reach out for help,” he said.

“For too many years, the topic of mental health has been pushed into a corner but we have to change that. Mental health, self-harm and suicide are massive issues particularly for young people, we need to talk about it and provide support 365 days a year.”

The project is supported by Inspired Youth, an award winning not-for-profit social enterprise which specialises in creating media campaigns which highlight social issues to reduce stigma and raise awareness.

Director Kev Curran said that having lost his own brother to suicide, it was a subject very close to his heart. “Kritikal makes powerful music because it’s about his real experiences - how he uses it to turn negatives into positives is an inspiration.”

Ottilie Scanlon, of PAPYRUS, said it applauded the ‘wonderful initiative,’ adding: “Awareness raising is vital; so too is fundraising, enabling us to extend our reach to more young people struggling with life.”

*Local artists and venues wanting to get involved in the project should contact KritikalOfficial@hotmail.co.uk and people can donate to the project via www.justgiving.com/account/your-pages/liberationtour.

For confidential suicide prevention advice and support call PAPYRUS HOPELineUK 0800 068 41 41 text 07796 209 697 email pat@papyrus-uk.org