Mental illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior.
Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behavior
There’s an unfortunate stigma surrounding mental health that still keeps many people from talking about their own, especially in public.
Though it’s easy to think of the world’s biggest stars as having it all, the truth is that mental illness can affect celebrities and any person in general.
As it turns out, a lifestyle of money and fame does not automatically shield one from mental illness.
Facing enormous pressure to appear perfect, public figures once kept their struggles with mental health private, but this tendency has changed dramatically in the 21st century.
Today, actors, musicians, political figures, and even royalty have opened up about their battles with mood disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse, and grief.
Below are celebrities who have opened up about battling depression .
1. Demi Lovato
A longtime advocate for mental health, pop star Demi Lovato has always been open about her struggles with depression and bipolar disorder as well as with substance abuse.
Since the age of 7, singer Demi Lovato has dealt with suicidal thoughts and depression.
On September 10, 2020, World Suicide Prevention Day, the pop star took to Twitter to share her history of mental illness with her fans. She assured them that “it is possible to see the light when you start the work on yourself.”
2. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Dwayne Johnson popularly known as “The Rock” has opened up about his mental health issues.
“I found that, with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone,” he said in a YouTube video.
“You’re not the first to go through it; you’re not going to be the last to go through it.
And oftentimes it happens you just feel like you’re alone. You feel like it’s only you. You’re in your bubble.
And I wish I had someone at that time who could just pull me aside and [say], ‘Hey, it’s gonna be OK. It’ll be OK.’ So, I wish I knew that.”
3. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga established her Born This Way Foundation a nonprofit to help disenfranchised teens.
“When my career took off, I don’t remember anything at all. It’s like I’m traumatized. I needed time to recalibrate my soul.
“I’ve suffered through depression and anxiety my entire life, I still suffer with it every single day,” she said in a 2015 Billboard interview.
I definitely look after my well-being…I openly admit to having battled depression and anxiety and I think a lot of people do. I think it’s better when we all say: ‘Cheers!’ and ‘fess up to it.'”
4. Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber shocked many his fans when he took to Instagram to detail the struggles he faced after he shot to fame as a 13-year-old.
In a social media post, the singer described how he began to believe the non-stop praise he received from the public, which led him to develop a sense of entitlement.
He explained that he lacked a sense of personal responsibility for his behavior and “abused” his relationships.
“I became resentful, disrespectful to women, and angry,” he wrote. “It also led me to become distant to everyone who loved me… I felt like I could never turn it around.”
Bieber has described how his religious faith and the support of his loved ones helped him turn his life around.
5. Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez has been open about her mental health struggles. In an interview she revealed that she officially diagnosed with both anxiety and depression and getting the right treatment has been life-changing.
“I found out I do suffer from mental health issues. And, honestly, that was such a relief,” she explained.
I realized that there was a way to get help and to find people that you trust. I got on the right medication, and my life has been completely changed.”
6. Kanye West
Rapper, producer, and fashion designer Kanye West’s mental health problems have been public for years.
West has been open about receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, a condition characterized by periods of mania and depression.
Recently, Ye opened up about his struggles with bipolar disorder, coming to terms with his divorce from social media icon Kim Kardashian, and struggling with suicidal thoughts, in his new documentary.
Kanye explained why it’s important for him to take his meds regularly. “If you don’t take medication every day to keep you at a certain state, you have a potential to ramp up.
7. Taraji p .Henson
Having suffered from anxiety and depression, Golden Globe-winner Taraji P. Henson has not only been vocal about her psychological problems but also about destigmatizing mental illness in the Black community.
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Taraji P. Henson knows firsthand the importance of discussing mental health as a Black woman — especially when it comes to thoughts of suicide.
The host of Peace of Mind With Taraji revealed in December 2020 that she had grappled with suicidal thoughts during the pandemic.
In 2018, the “Empire” star started a foundation that focuses on mental health in the African American population.
Prayer, meditation, and therapy help Henson manage her depression and anxiety.
8. Nicki Minaj
Working hard for a dream can be utterly exhausting, and perhaps no one knows that better than Nicki Minaj.
She may be regarded as one of the best rappers alive today, but in 2011, she shared with Cosmopolitan that she became so depressed while trying to break into the industry that she had suicidal thoughts.
“It was just one dead end after another,” Nicki said of contemplating suicide. “At one point, I was, like, ‘What would happen if I just didn’t wake up?’ That’s how I felt. Like, ‘Maybe I should just take my life?’”
