Jelly Roll Fans Are Using His Song To Break the Stigma Around Mental Health and Addiction

Jelly Roll’s career was born of pain. The “Need a Favor” hitmaker channels his past struggles with poverty and substance use into powerful healing experiences set to music. This is particularly true on “I Am Not Okay,” off the forthcoming follow-up to his 2023 breakthrough album Whitsitt Chapel. The lyrics perfectly encapsulate the non-linear cycles all too familiar to those fighting depression. “I Am Not Okay” has caught fire on TikTok. Users are employing the sound to open up about their own internal battles. And the GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter himself recently took to the platform to speak on how this phenomenon has touched him.

Jelly Roll Sends Messages To Fans Struggling With Addiction, Mental Health

Jelly Roll recently went down on a TikTok rabbit hole, spending two hours watching “as many of the videos as I could” of fans using “I Am Not Okay” to share their personal struggles. The “Liar” singer was moved enough to create his own vulnerable post Tuesday (Aug. 20.)

“Over 130,000 people have been vulnerable enough to share their story,” the text overlay reads. “And most of what I’ve seen is people having real conversations around mental health and addiction.”

@officialjellyroll

😭 😭

♬ I Am Not Okay – Jelly Roll

“I Am Not Okay” is playing as the words appear. The song’s opening verse couldn’t be more appropriate: I’m barely getting by / I’m losing track of days / Losing sleep at night.

“Thank you all for choosing my song to tell your story and break the stigma around mental health and addiction,” concludes Jelly, 39, in the text overlay.

[RELATED: 4 of the Most Inspirational Jelly Roll Lyrics]

“No, Thank You:” Fans Respond to Jelly’s Message

In just one day, the post had garnered more than 21,000 likes. The majority of the comment section expressed gratitude to Jelly Roll for making them feel seen. “No, thank you for sharing your story so we can feel safe to share ours,” one TikTok user wrote. “This song speaks to so many. We love you Jelly Roll!”

The “Save Me” singer is stepping up his social media game as he prepares to announce “the biggest album of my life.” In a TikTok post Monday (Aug. 19), Jelly (born Jason Deford) told fans they should expect to see more of him on the platform.

@officialjellyroll

Honesty first as always – i need help

♬ original sound – Jelly Roll

“I’m asking y’all personally to come on this journey with me—and don’t make fun of me if you see my fat a– dancing on here doing the Cha Cha Slide or something to one of my songs,” Jelly said. “I’m just trying to create awareness for this new album.”

Featured image by Curtis Hilbun/AFF-USA/Shutterstock