10 Celebrities Who Are Open About Their Mental Health
We usually see celebrities being glamorous on red carpets and events or living their best lives in their social media posts. But like most of us, they struggle or have struggled with mental health. While it was once considered taboo to discuss mental health struggles, many celebrities have chosen to open up about the topic and their transparency works to combat the stigma surrounding discussing mental health. And with that honestly, this will hopefully normalize the conversation and sharing of mental health more and more.
Here are some of the celebrities who have opened up about their mental health through interviews and social media, showing us how everyone can be affected by mental health struggles regardless of wealth and status.
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Adele
After her divorce from Simon Konecki in 2019, Adele spoke to him Rolling Stone about her struggles with anxiety and depression that left her bedridden. She explained that in addition to the mental health difficulties she was dealing with, she also had physical problems after discovering she had gluten intolerance, a symptom of which is increased depression. The singer mentioned during the interview that she coped with her difficulties by not drinking, traveling and exercising.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has always been vocal about her struggles with mental health. On World Suicide Prevention Day 2020, they spoke about how they have dealt with suicidal thoughts since the age of seven. They also released the song “OK Not to Be OK” with DJ Marshmello, which reminds listeners not to be ashamed of their feelings and mental health issues. The singer also shared through posts on Instagram and Twitter her experience in the treatment of bulimia, bipolar disorder and addiction and how they sought help when needed.
Elizabeth Olsen
of WandaVision The actress spoke to Glamor UK about her mental health while living in New York. During this time, she faced severe anxiety and panic attacks, which led her to learn and practice exercises that helped her control her anxiety. Now, she and her husband Robbie Arnett have released a self-care book for children called Hattie Harmony: Trouble Detectivewhich helps children manage anxiety in everyday situations.
Hailey Bieber
The model and wife of Justin Bieber has spoken about all the harassment and hate she received on social networks during her meeting with Bieber and eventually marrying him. She has talked about how having social media accounts has made her feel depressed, causing her to stay away from them as much as possible.
Harry Styles
Pop singer Harry Styles has opened up about starting therapy after years of feeling hesitant about the idea. In an interview with Better Homes & Gardens, he said he used to think being in therapy “meant you were broken.” Five years ago, he started therapy, and he mentions how it has improved the way he deals with his emotions and accepts his feelings, both good and bad.
Prince Harry
Prince Harry has become a huge advocate for mental health. After stepping down from royal duties in January 2020, he has become part of the Apple+ mental health series The me you can’t see, where he and Oprah Winfrey lead open discussions about mental health. In one episode, he talks about the difficulties of coping with the loss of his mother, Princess Diana, at a very young age, which eventually led to panic attacks and anxiety. He also spoke about how he and his wife, Meghan Markle, felt powerless amid hateful press articles about them, which is part of the reason he felt the need to move to the United States and focused on the welfare of his family.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga also appeared on the mental health series The me you can’t see. Here, she opened up about her struggles with PTSD after being sexually abused and impregnated by a music producer when she was 19. She talked about the physical hurt she felt after her abuse and how even years later her body remembered that feeling and she had to seek medical help because she still felt something was wrong. The singer has always been a strong advocate for mental health, and this year she and her mom launched a free online mental health course called Certificate to be there, which provides knowledge and skills to support anyone who may be struggling with their mental health.
Lily Reinhart
The CW show actress Riverdale has spoken about her mental health struggles on several occasions through her social media accounts. In one of her posts, she let her fans know that she had struggled with depression since she was 14 and had a tough time when she moved to LA to pursue her acting career. She also shared how she had to go back to her hometown to take care of her mental health to focus on herself at some point. In her book of poems, swimming lessons, she talks further about her struggles with mental health and encourages fans to prioritize their own mental health.
Lizzo
With her rapid rise to fame, Lizzo has faced a lot of negative comments from people on social media, and because of this she began to struggle with depression and anxiety, which she discussed in an interview with Variety. She has also spoken about not feeling represented in the industry and that she has sometimes felt uncomfortable with her body. The singer has often shared positive thoughts about her fans on social media and posted how it’s important to ask for help when needed.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez has spoken openly about her health conditions, physical and psychological, with her fans. While battling lupus and needing a kidney transplant, she faced mental health issues, she said in an interview with People magazine. In another interview with ELLE magazine, she talked about her experience of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and how it helped her understand her feelings and actions. She has always been an advocate for mental health and talks about how important it is to seek help when needed.