Shanti Das began her illustrious career in the music industry, rising from an intern to executive vice president. She played a pivotal role in launching and managing the careers of renowned artists such as OutKast, Usher, TLC, and Toni Braxton. However, despite her high-paced and demanding career, Das realized she was not prioritizing her own mental health. The stress and pressures of the industry took a toll on her well-being, a realization that eventually led her to seek counseling and therapy.
“I was working at a very high-paced entry-level position for quite some time, and I didn’t really give myself proper time to take care of myself,” Das shares. “I felt like I was taking care of everybody else, and once I started dealing with stress in the workplace, I didn’t really know how to process all of that.”
The challenges became even more present when Das’ father committed suicide.
“As a family, growing up, we never went to counseling or therapy. So, I think there was a lot of generational trauma, pain, frustrations, and unresolved issues that we never dealt with as a family. Once I started dealing with my own issues while working in the entertainment industry, I didn’t really know how to handle all of that and deal with it. So, I finally went to counseling and therapy,” Das adds.
After walking away from her career due to mental and emotional health issues in 2010, she began to realize how interconnected the mind and body are.
“Because people weren’t really talking about self-care, mental health, or anything like that, it ended up becoming a passion point for me,” Das says.
After suicidal ideation and further health issues, she became a vocal advocate for mental health, particularly within the Black community.
“With all the struggles and stress that we face, I decided to use my platform, having worked in entertainment, to bring awareness to many important topics for Black communities, especially the need to prioritize holistic health care.”
In 2015, Das founded Silence the Shame, a nonprofit organization dedicated to erasing the stigma around mental health. The initiative promotes awareness, education, and support for mental health issues, especially in communities of color. Through her organization, Das has created a platform for open conversations about mental health, encouraging individuals to seek help and support.
During the pandemic, Das launched “The Mibo Show”, a podcast that addresses mental and physical health challenges. The podcast features interviews with celebrities and influencers, discussing their personal mental health journeys. Season one of the podcast focused on celebrating hip-hop turning 50 and featured conversations with various artists about their health issues.
“I am passionate about mental and physical health, so I decided to start a podcast addressing these struggles. Being a Black woman in the music industry, I felt it was crucial for our culture to hear from others and create a safe space. This allows people of color to have open conversations about their mental and physical health challenges,” Das adds. “It’s not always easy to discuss these things, so I hope ‘The Mibo Show’ has provided a platform for the Black community and communities of color to have these conversations.”
Das is currently partnering with Johnson & Johnson and its That’s My Word campaign, which she credits for helping her spread her content to the medical community. That’s My Word aims to raise awareness of and help drive better health outcomes for multiple myeloma among at-risk populations. The campaign highlights her commitment to raising awareness about multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer that disproportionately affects the Black community.
“This issue hits close to home for me, and I thought about how I could use my platform to support awareness and information dissemination. Many people in our community are unaware that African Americans, comprising about 14 percent of the country’s population, represent 20 percent of all multiple myeloma patients—a number that continues to grow. This personal connection drives my commitment because, currently, there is no cure,” Das shares.
“As I started researching, I didn’t realize I had a closer connection to multiple myeloma. I discovered that a close girlfriend passed away from it in 2004. Although I knew it was cancer, I didn’t recall the exact diagnosis. I’ve also learned that a distant cousin has been living with multiple myeloma for over 15 years, and a colleague in the entertainment industry is now dealing with it.”
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One of the key components of Das’ advocacy is encouraging open and honest family health conversations. She believes discussing family health history and potential genetic risks can improve health outcomes through early detection and treatment. Das challenges Black families to have these important discussions to promote awareness and proactive health management.
“I think back to the conversation I had with Erica Campbell—it was great talking to her. She’s not only a friend but also a colleague. We recently had hematologist and oncologist Dr. [Monique] Hartley-Brown on an episode of ‘The Mibo Show’. We had a really insightful discussion about multiple myeloma and cancer in general. Erica shared about her father’s battle with blood cancer and why she’s passionate about raising awareness for it now. Dr. Hartley-Brown talked about her experiences as a caregiver for multiple myeloma patients and her advocacy for equitable treatment,” Das says.
Das also recognizes the deep connection between physical and mental health, particularly in the context of serious illnesses like multiple myeloma. A cancer diagnosis can significantly impact a person’s mental health, leading to symptoms of depression and anxiety.
“I think a cancer diagnosis and the entire journey of treatment have a major impact on your mental health, as well as your physical and emotional well-being. It can be really stressful for the family to navigate early detection versus finding out later about the diagnosis and treatment options,” Das notes. “Especially with multiple myeloma being such a rare blood cancer, there are many uncertainties and questions that can lead to anxiety and distress. Research shows that about 25 percent of people diagnosed with multiple myeloma experience significant mental distress due to uncertainties about their diagnosis, treatment, and other health challenges.”
“Imagine being diagnosed with something and being told there’s no cure; that alone could send someone into a spiral, affecting not only them but also their family who needs a lot of support,” Das adds. “That’s why it’s crucial to take a holistic approach to care, ensuring the patient has a diverse care team that may include an oncologist, therapist, and psychiatrist, as well as community support. Initiatives like the That’s My Word campaign play a vital role in informing communities about available resources and encouraging families to join support groups, which are accessible online.”
As Das continues her advocacy work, she has one challenge for Black families:
“Be vulnerable, open up, and have those tough conversations. It doesn’t always have to be hard—create a game or a fun way to discuss family history. Knowing our history helps us move forward and be healthier. I’ve been learning this firsthand since my mom passed away two years ago and my sister five years ago from a blood clot. Now, I’m trying to piece together our family history, especially as I deal with menopause and other health challenges,” she advises.
If you aren’t sure where to start, get an accountability partner.
“We often gather as a Black family for Sunday dinners, talking about the latest TikTok trends, but we should also have serious discussions about our health and history. Having accountability partners within the family to facilitate these conversations can make a big difference. Encouraging older family members to share their health history is crucial because the more we know, the more we grow from a health perspective. Early detection is key, which is why campaigns like the multiple myeloma awareness campaign are so important,” she concludes.
You can listen to “The Mibo Show” on any podcast platform. It’s also available on YouTube. Follow “The Mibo Show” on Instagram for show clips and easy access to episodes through the link in the bio.
