How Celebrities Are Helping Break The Stigma Around Mental Health?

Mental health was once a taboo topic, and although the stigma is still there, a lot of progress has been made in breaking the stereotypes associated with it. Still, it’s necessary to keep raising awareness and in the era of social media, this is easier than ever. 

The truth is that anyone can struggle with their mental health at some point in their life, and starting a conversation about this topic is key to making people feel less lonely – and encouraging them to ask for help. 

If there’s a universal truth, it is that everyone faces some adversity in their life. Someone can experience workplace stress, while another can deal with relationship issues. Or, a person could deal with a highly traumatic experience. Abuse, for instance, can leave someone with physical injuries, and victims must get compensation for it( for more information on this, visit https://www.compensationcalculatoruk.co.uk/criminal-injuries-compensation-calculator/). However, what’s also hard to cope with is the emotional scars that you are left with after going through such a horrendous thing. 

Abuse takes a significant toll on victims’ mental health, and getting support – both from a therapist and other people- plays a huge role in navigating such a difficult situation. And this is true for any other challenging experiences in your life – sharing what you’re going through can truly make a difference. Yet, many people stay silent about the battles they are fighting every day. This is why it is so important to advocate for mental health – and celebrities are using their voices to show people that they aren’t alone in whatever they might be going through. In this blog, we will look at how famous stars are leveraging their influence to highlight the importance of mental health, so read on!

Selena Gomez

Selena has grown up as a singer and actress, quickly becoming one of the most adored artists around the world. However, this came at a significant cost, as she has struggle significantly with her mental health, experiencing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and panic attacks. In her documentary “My Mind & Me”, Selena openly talked about her struggles, but she has been advocating for mental health for years, even winning an award for it. 

In fact, in 2021, Selena even launched a campaign to raise mental health awareness. In her social media post about the campaign, the celebrity said: “the world needs to know that mental health matters, and I wish we could all acknowledge that, not in just words but through our actions”. Her openness and dedication to raising mental health awareness are indeed appreciated, and without a doubt, her advocacy is playing a huge role in educating the public about the topic and inviting people to be more compassionate towards others – and themselves. 

Taylor Swift

Taylor’s songs have been chart-topping over the years, and if you pay attention to the layers of her music, it will be easy to understand why. Her songs feel like a warm embrace, offering comfort to people who resonate with the lyrics. Swift’s music shares stories about heartbreak, self-reflection, and love and captures the complexity of emotions.

Besides her music, the singer has repeatedly talked about mental health in different interviews, mentioning her battles with anxiety and body image. She is clearly one of the top mental health advocates among celebrities, and all her efforts haven’t been for nothing: the artist has succeeded in creating a strong sense of belonging among her fans, empowering them to talk about their experiences and support each other.  

Demi Lovato

Lovato has become the voice of individuals struggling with mental health issues like eating disorders, depression, substance abuse, and so on. There have been many instances where she talked about the importance of mental health, whether on her social media account, book, documentary, and so on.

The artist has had a lengthy journey with mental health problems, struggling with eating disorders, addiction, and even suicidal ideation, and after her public relapses, she openly talked about recovery, hoping to help other people. Lovato said that she wished she had support when she started struggling with an eating disorder at 13, and that’s why she has chosen to be transparent about her own struggles: to help others by reminding them that it’s okay to ask for help.

And we can only agree with her: while many people see asking for help as a sign of weakness, it’s actually the bravest thing you can do when facing inner battles. There’s support out there, and you don’t need to fight those battles alone.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande has achieved significant musical success and hasn’t hesitated to use her popularity to advocate for mental health. The artist has faced many adversities throughout her life, from the loss of her ex-partner to the terrorist attack she experienced at one of her England concerts. The latter event left her with PTSD, a distressing mental health condition that causes severe anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks. Ariana has talked about the impact of anxiety in her career, which made it difficult for her to perform on the scene.

Besides being vocal about her struggles, the celebrity collaborated with Better Help, a mental health platform offering online counseling, giving away $2 million worth of services. As Ariana herself said, she wanted her actions to inspire people to seek therapy and break the stigma around doing so.

The artist’s efforts may not have fixed the larger issues of mental health care affordability, but they have represented a significant step in raising more awareness on the topic and reminding the public that there’s no shame in seeking professional help when needed.

Shaping a future without mental health stigma

While there’s still more to be done to break the stigma around mental health and ensure improved access to therapy services, celebrities are indeed playing their part in advocating for this important topic.

Being open about one’s own struggles definitely plays a role in developing empathy, as it reminds people that life isn’t easy for anyone, and the key to overcoming challenging times is to connect with others and realize that you are not alone and that it’s okay to rely on others when the road gets too dark for you to find the light.