Mental health is a fundamental aspect of our well-being as human beings. Taking care of it is essential to ensuring our happiness and full satisfaction in life. However, the challenges associated with it can affect any of us, and celebrities are no exception.
Today, we share the stories of 10 public figures who have openly spoken about their mental health experiences:
1. Demi Lovato, American singer
«Like millions of people, I live with a mental health condition. But I am fortunate: I had the resources and support to seek treatment. Unfortunately, many people do not seek help, either because they fear stigma or because they cannot access treatment. All of us can make a difference, whether by educating ourselves about mental health or by breaking the stigma. I call on all political leaders to support laws that can provide access to better mental health care for everyone.»
(Demi Lovato’s speech at the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, 2016)
2. J Balvin, Colombian singer
«Depression should no longer be seen as something related to being ‘crazy’. We need to understand that there are chemical imbalances: some are emotional, but when they become deeper, they can involve chemical imbalances, and professional help is available. There is a stigma that I also believed in, thinking that these issues were only for ‘crazy’ people. I was even more wrong because I did not allow myself to receive help.»
(Interview with Univisión)
3. Lady Di, Princess of Wales
«I was struggling with postpartum depression, something that no one had ever talked about… and it was already a difficult time. You would wake up in the mornings feeling like you did not want to get out of bed, feeling misunderstood. (…) I did not love myself; I felt ashamed because I could not handle the pressure surrounding me.»
(1995 interview with the BBC)
4. Beyoncé, American singer
«Everything started becoming blurry: I could not remember what day or what city I was in. I would sit at award ceremonies receiving recognition, and all I could think about was my next performance. My mother was very persistent and repeatedly told me that I needed to take care of my mental health.»
(Interview with The Sun newspaper in 2011)
5. Dwayne Johnson, “The Rock”, American actor
«I found that, with depression, one of the most important things is realizing that you are not alone. You are not the first person, and you will not be the last person, to go through something like this. Often, you feel as though you are alone. You feel like it is only happening to you. You are trapped in your own world. During those moments, I wish I had someone who could take me aside and say: ‘Hey, everything is going to be okay. You are going to be fine.’ I wish I had known that.»
(Video published by Oprah Winfrey Network – OWN)
6. Anahí de Cárdenas, Peruvian actress and model
«I have borderline personality disorder and depression, and I wanted everyone who experiences this to know that it is possible to live a normal life. Yes, there is hope for us! It is not easy; it is a daily struggle, but it is completely possible to have a fulfilling life, get married, and be happy.»
(Tweet published by Anahí de Cárdenas in 2015)
7. Carrie Fisher, American actress
«We have been given a very challenging condition, and there is no other choice but to face these challenges. Think of it as an opportunity to perform a heroic act of emotional survival. An opportunity to become a positive example for those who live with the same condition.»
(Letter published in Carrie Fisher’s column in The Guardian)
8. Marco Zunino, Peruvian actor
«I have lived with depression throughout my life, but I always tried to hide it. It is an illness that cannot be seen, and I always pretended that I was fine, and that was exhausting.»
(Statements made during an interview with “Magaly TeVe” magazine)
9. Lady Gaga, American singer
«There is a lot of shame surrounding mental health. You feel like something is wrong with you. But you cannot prevent yourself from waking up some mornings feeling tired, sad, or so anxious that you can barely think. For me, speaking openly about my mental health was like saying: ‘This is a part of me, and that is okay.»
(Conversation about mental health with Prince William of England)
10. Selena Gomez, American singer and actress
«I had to stop because I had everything, yet I was completely broken inside. I kept things together long enough to know that I would not disappoint others, but I maintained that for so long that I ended up disappointing myself. (…) If you are broken, you do not have to remain that way.»
(Acceptance speech for the “Favorite Female Pop/Rock Artist” award at the 2016 American Music Awards)
