As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, we seek inspiration from these celebrities who have bravely opened up about their mental health.
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While conversations about mental health have been considered a taboo for a long time, there has been a shift in the recent years that have allowed more people to talk about their issues. Breaking the stigma, these celebrities are among those who fight for mental health awareness by bravely speaking up about the topic.
Celebrating Mental Health Awareness this October, we look at the stars who have opened up about their own mental health battles and encouraged others to seek help:
Heart Evangelista
A fashion icon and an artist in her own right, Heart Evangelista bravely spoke up about the depression she went through after experiencing a miscarriage. In an interview with Jessica Soho, the multi-hyphenate said, “When I lost my babies, I had a slight depression.” While she was able to recover from it, the depression came back a year later and started affecting her physical health. After going to several doctors, she was diagnosed with extreme anxiety. She encourages others not to be scared to seek help if needed, saying, “‘Pag masyado nang malakas yung boses sa loob ng isip mo, I think it’s time to go. Kasi sometimes your fears, nandiyan lang sila. Parang na-o-overpower niya na utak mo. Pag hindi na talaga kaya, you need to see a doctor. Hindi dapat itaya yung buhay mo dahil nahihiya ka pumunta sa doktor or nahihiya ka mag-open up about it. There is a way you can be fixed. Ask help and don’t be afraid of it. So that’s what I did.”
Selena Gomez
After being diagnosed with lupus, Selena Gomez battled some mental health issues as a side effect. Bravely sharing her story, the star said, “As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways. I’ve discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges.” She took some time off from the spotlight, and encouraged her fans to also seek help if they need to. “I know I am not alone by sharing this, I hope others will be encouraged to address their own issues,” she says.
Nadine Lustre
A Filipino star who has been vocal about the topic is Nadine Lustre. In 2020, she partnered up with Mental Health PH, and opened up about her own struggles with depression and anxiety. She shared an encouraging message to everyone struggling, saying “Remember that a lot of people love you, a lot of people care about you. Whatever it is that you are going through, always remember that you are going to get through it, no matter what. Just don’t lose hope.”
Kendall Jenner
Living your life in the spotlight can definitely have its cons, but can you imagine growing up in it? Kendall Jenner has been followed by cameras ever since she was a little girl filming “Keeping Up With The Kardashians.” Opening up about her mental health, the model partnered with Vogue for a 4 part series called “Open Minded: Understanding Anxiety with Kendall Jenner.” Jenner shared, “I have struggled with anxiety and panic attacks since I was a little girl. I wanted to dive deeper to better understand what I was feeling, but more so to share this information with others who may struggle too.”
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has become some sort of icon for mental health awareness as she has spoken up about the topic numerous of times. As someone who’s had her fair share of issues, the singer has since opened up about her life—mental health, bipolar disorder, and addiction problems. “I went through several years of pain and suffering, and I want to be able to help people and help try to prevent that suffering from happening,” she said in an interview. “I think it’s important that people no longer look at mental illness as something taboo to talk about. It’s something that’s extremely common, one in five adults has a mental illness, so basically everyone is essentially connected to this problem and this epidemic.”
