CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Morning radio fans know "Church Boy" as part of "No Limit Larry and the Morning Maddhouse."
Now, Travis Gilliam is revealing something personal -- his battle with severe depression.
"It was suicidal. It was just that bad," he said.
Gilliam's father died 12 years ago followed by the death of his uncle, cousin and mentor.
"I was in my own world my own dark space. Every day, I just thought about it being over ending everything. I just wanted the pain to go away," he said.
Gilliam kept working and said family, close friends and faith helped him overcome it.
He's working with local mental health professionals to get a message to others who may not have the same support.
"Me, being a black male, we weren't taught to talk. We were taught be a man, but real men do cry," he said.
He's planned a weekend of events at a local college, library and church.
"We're going to hear personal stories we're going to talk about what depression really is. We're going to dispel myths and give you ways to help and have resources there," said clinical director Trasha Black with the Genesis Project.
Church Boy said it's all part of an effort to use his platform to make a difference.
"I don't want to use it just to entertain or be funny, silly. I want to really use it to help people and reach out in to the community," he said.
For more on the Genesis Project, click here.