Conversations surrounding the importance of mental health have slowly crept into the spotlight in recent years. Part of this is due to a better understanding of what mental health exactly is, and part of this is because more and more people are opening up about their personal experiences with mental health.
That includes some of our most prominent celebrities, who are using their platforms to do more than promote their selfies. Whether it’s brought up on social media or in an interview, here’s 10 celebrities who are finding their own ways to elevate the mental health conversation.
Billie Eilish
“Kids use my songs as a hug. Songs about being depressed or suicidal or completely just against-yourself—some adults think that’s bad, but I feel that seeing that someone else feels just as horrible as you do is a comfort. It’s a good feeling.”
Eilish is known by most of the world for her exciting and catchy pop songs, but her fans know her for her honest and raw conversations about her struggles with her mental health. From body dysmorphia to depression to even Tourette syndrome, Eilish doesn’t shy away from the fact that life isn’t always picture perfect.
Kristen Bell
“I’m not embarrassed about any of the time I need to take to help myself, because that’s making me a better me.”
The Good Place star is known for her optimistic and positive attitude, but Bell admits that it isn’t always rainbows and sunshine. She regularly speaks out about her battle with anxiety and depression, encouraging fans to learn from her own life and do mental health check-ins regularly.
Justin Bieber
“I just would encourage people, like, ‘Hey, if you’re feeling lonely, talk about it. Say it out loud.’ There’s a freedom in that. I could have avoided a lot of pain.”
Bieber has placed a massive focus on his mental health in recent years, opening up about his battle with anxiety and drug addiction. And now he’s encouraging fans to get the help they need. On his last tour, Bieber partnered with numerous organizations that focus in a variety of topics including mental health. He eventually cancelled his tour after a few months to focus on his own mental health.
Katy Perry
“Gratitude is probably the thing that saved my life. Because if I didn’t find that, I would have wallowed in my own sadness and probably just jumped but I found the ways to be grateful.”
The pop singer is all about making others happy and joyful, but in 2020 she opened up to Billboard about a dark spell she went through in 2017 where she “lost her smile.” The outside world didn’t entice her as much, and she shared that it took a lot of time and effort to find her way back to a healthy mental space.
Shawn Mendes
“I’m afraid that if people know and see the truth, they might think less of me. They might become bored of me. So in those moments of feeling low, I either put on a show or hide. The truth in current form is a 23-year-old who constantly feels like he’s either flying or drowning.”
Mendes has spent all of his young adult life in the public eye, as paparazzi and fans have watched him turn from a 15-year-old kid into a 24-year-old man. But that means that Mendes had to process some difficult times in front of the world, which led to a lot of anxiety and depression that the pop singer is still learning how to handle.
Sophie Turner
“I’ve suffered with depression for about five or six years now. The biggest challenge for me: Getting out of bed and getting out of the house — and like, learning to love yourself.”
The Games of Thrones actress shared on Dr. Phil’s podcast that she struggled with anxiety and depression regarding her appearance while she was filming the hit HBO show. Through therapy and medication, Turner has eventually grown to a place where she has learned to love herself and she hopes by sharing her story others can do the same.
Pete Davidson
“I’m always depressed, all the time. I have to constantly bring myself out of it. I wake depressed, but now I know my steps. I have to go outside and be in sun for a little bit, or go for a walk. It’s all just programming yourself to trick your brain.”
The comedian regularly speaks about his mental health, even if it’s typically in the form of a joke. While he is often sharing his stories about depression, anxiety or borderline personality disorder for some laughs, there’s always a bit of truth behind his bits. By speaking out about it during his ‘Weekend Update’ visits, Davidson brought the conversation about mental health into a new light.
Adele
“In my pregnancy and through becoming a mother, I lost a lot of myself, and I’ve struggled. I still do struggle being a mom — it’s really hard.”
Adele has shared that she wasn’t prepared to work through her postpartum depression after giving birth to her son in 2012. In a speech at the 2017 Grammys, the British singer admitted that she had “lost a bit of herself” after giving birth and it took a while to get back. She’s since discussed about he anxiety and stress of motherhood, something all parents can find a way to relate to.
Selena Gomez
“My self-esteem was shot. I was depressed, anxious. I started to have panic attacks right before getting on stage, or right after leaving the stage.”
The singer/actress/entrepreneur is no stranger to stress. After years of struggling with anxiety and depression, Gomez opened up about her battles, including how quitting social media helps alleviate her stress. Last year, Gomez launched Wondermind, an online therapy resource to help others get the information and tools they need. And in November, she released a documentary all about her mental health journey on Apple TV+, Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
“I reached a point where I didn’t want to do a thing or go anywhere. I was crying constantly.”
There’s no doubt that Johnson has spent some time working on his physical health, but in 2018, the wrestler-turned-actor shared that he’s put a lot of work into his mental health, too. Johnson shared that he’s battled with depression for years and he’s worked with his mother, who also struggles with depression, to get the help he needs.
