Gospel Singer Speaks About Dealing With Suicidal Thoughts
Singing the song "Changed" at a Black History Month event was more than a celebration of a people for gospel singer and former Sunday Best contestant Andrea Helms. It was a testimony for the singer who dealt with suicidal thoughts while continuing to serve as a worship leader.
"God changed me and that's why that song means something to me," is an understatement of Helms' transforming and life challenging experience.
"Changed" which will be featured on Helms' upcoming Music World release Moving Forward resonates from a place of thankful for the singer who wrestled with a difficult season of postpartum depression.
"[W]hen I had my son, I dealt with severe postpartum depression that literally caused me to have suicidal tendencies," the singer said in a statement for Amazon.
Postpartum depression is considered a serious illness that occurs in the few months after childbirth in which one experiences sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness.
A study by the CDC that included more than 52,000 women in 17 states found that postpartum depression ranged from 11.7 percent in Maine to 20.4 percent in New Mexico. The CDC urges any woman dealing with the illness to seek immediate help for the sake of the mother and that of the child.
Helms, who came from a loving family, credits her mother for helping her recover.
"My mom is a fireball and a prayer warrior and she prayed me through it."
The singer, who surprised many Sunday Best fans with her strong vocals, lost valuable time with her son because of the illness and while dealing with it, still served in ministry.
"I was still leading worship through it all, but it was really a rough, rough, time. I don't remember a lot of my son's first year being here with me because I was not in the right frame of mind."
