Teen Speaker Turned to God Amid Depression: ‘You are Loved’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Sixteen-year-old Shannon Monet’s life might have ended tragically if God had not intervened. Now, she uses her story to help others facing suicidal thoughts and depression.
“Well, I was the only black girl in my classroom, and because of that, I got bullied,” Monet told Shawn Bolz on his podcast “The Shawn Bolz Show.”
To add to the stress of being bullied, the friends she made at the time turned against her.
“So, it was a lot of times where I had to face loneliness, and it was painful to see everyone else with their friends. And I was only 9 and 10 at this time, and I was also set apart from others, and because of that, it made me feel worthless and made me feel alone,” she told Bolz.
She initially dealt with the loneliness by listening to “negative music” and engaging in “toxic friendships” but realized that those didn’t help.
“I was trying to find different ways to fill that missing void inside my heart, and it wasn’t working,” she said. “Nobody but God can fill that missing void.”
So, Monet prayed.
“I used to go outside during recess, and I used to just walk with God and pray to him. I didn’t care who was around me. I didn’t care what anyone thought because I was like, ‘Okay, God, you have my back. I’ll lean on you,’ despite all the issues that I was facing,” the teen recalled.
Despite her prayers, Monet, 11 years old at the time, reached a point where she wanted to end her life. She recalls crying out to God one night.
“And I was like, ‘God, I’m tired of what I’m facing. I don’t like who I am. Why’d you even create me? And you’re not even real because if you are real, why am I going through all this?’” she said.
Her mom, who until that time was unaware of Monet’s struggle, found her as she was in tears that night and hugged her and prayed over her.
That was a turning point for Monet, and she eventually felt led to share her story.
“So after years of healing, I started to think, okay, maybe I should share my story. Maybe I should start helping people. But then at the same time, like, ‘No, I don’t want to do that. I’m too shy,’” Monet admitted. “But then God was like, ‘You got to do it, just go for it.’ So I did it.”
Now, Monet shares her story of healing to inspire others through social media, speaking at schools to encourage young people as suicide rates skyrocket.
The CDC reported, “…from 2011 to 2021 indicates that 13% of high school girls had attempted suicide.” Suicide was also the second leading cause of death among 10 to 14-year-olds in 2021—the age Monet was when she contemplated ending her life.
Monet often posts inspirational messages, spoken word, and videos to encourage her followers.
One recent post states, “Rejections and No’s are not setbacks or detours, but they are guiding you to the right direction. What God has for you, is for you.”
When Bolz asked what she would say to a teen battling depression and anxiety, Monet responded, “I would say, ‘You are loved, and you are beautiful. And not to believe the thoughts that are coming to your mind, even though it could be convincing.’”
She continued, “Those are lies that are coming to your mind. And I suggest that you talk to someone that you can trust. Talk to someone that you can depend on because we need each other.”
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