Lady Gaga’s new anthology, Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community, compiles stories from young people about overcoming adversity. Released last month by the Born This Way Foundation, which was founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, in 2012, the anthology brings together 51 inspirational stories written by youth.
Compiling stories from young activists and leaders, the book focuses on issues such as overcoming bullying, fighting mental health issues, and initiating social movements. The book also offers advice to young readers about making a difference for the better both in the world and in their own lives. “I wish I had a book like Channel Kindness when I was younger to help me feel acknowledged, remind me that I’m not alone, and encourage me to better support myself and others,” Lady Gaga wrote. “Now it’s here and anyone at any age will benefit from the stories inside. This book affirms what we already know to be true – kindness will heal the world.”
Lady Gaga is no stranger to mental health issues and has been quite open about her own experiences. For example, her song “911” depicts surreal scenery and Gaga being resuscitated after a car crash. “It’s about an antipsychotic that I take,” Lady Gaga explained “And it’s because I can’t always control things that my brain does. I know that. And I have to take medication to stop the process that occurs.”
Mental health issues are all too common. According to the Mental Health Foundation, one in six people in the UK experiences mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. The owner of SUPPLEMENTNATION.co.uk and nutritionist Ester Robinson says: “While some people are unable to overcome mental health issues without the help of prescription medication, such as antidepressants, exercise, nutrition, and adequate sleep can also play a crucial role in the fight against depression. Supplements such as vitamin D and fish oil are just two natural treatments for this debilitating condition.”
In the book, the Oscar-winning star also shares her own story called “The Value of Negative Space,” in which she talks about a run-in with bullies in her school days. “In this story in particular, what I extrapolated from my experience as a young woman was that…if you hear someone say something mean to someone else, and there’s silence, that’s…’negative space.’ [And] we should fill that space with kindness,” she said “We should fill that space with kind words. We should fill that space with kind actions. We can stand up for someone. We can walk over to someone and say, ‘Are you OK? I heard that. Did that make you feel sad? How do you feel? Can I help you?’”
Significantly, Lady Gaga’s book shows that kindness can be a type of therapy. “This book is about the power of that kindness to tell your own story, to inspire someone, to help them feel less alone,” Gaga told Good Morning America. “When you give [people] a platform, you will see them rise up and be incredibly strong and share their brilliance.”
