Destigmatizing mental health issues through the eyes of celebrities

You probably think celebrities have their whole lives figured out, but as humans we all go through tough times, regardless of our level of fame or wealth. Some of these celebrities from the entertainment or sports world have opened up about their mental health issues as a way to bring the conversation to a broader audience. They want to show that people are not alone, many are experiencing similar struggles.

As part of Mental Health Month, we bring you some of these celebrity stories, but remember: if you’re struggling, seek professional help, it is important to get personalized assistance from a specialist.

It is not a bad thing to seek help

“There’s nothing weak about struggling with mental illness,” wrote actress Kristen Bell in an essay.

“Anyone can be affected, despite their level of success or their place on the food chain.”

When Bell was 18 years old, her mom advised her to get help if she felt she had a dark cloud hanging over her. After more than a decade of dealing with mental health issues, she decided to speak out publicly.

“I don’t believe anything should be taboo… talking about how you’re feeling is the first step to helping yourself.”

Looking for help in the right places

As singer Camila Cabello’s thoughts became obsessive, she decided to act as if it wasn’t happening. She later realized that this wasn’t the best way to cope with it, and sought professional help and support from people close to her, such as her mom.

The singer opened up in a WSJ publication: “it made me feel like my mind was playing a cruel trick on me.” It was not only her mind that was affected, her body was also suffering from headaches and insomnia, “my body went through what felt like multiple roller-coaster rides every day.”

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson also sought help from family and friends when he recognized symptoms of depression when his first marriage ended.

He encourages people to talk to someone they trust and seek professional help to maintain mental wellness care. “You’re not the first to go through it; you’re not going to be the last to go through it,” said in a YouTube video. “I found that, with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone.”

Going through breakups and divorces can be painful. Johnson hasn’t been the only one in this situation. Eva Longoria told Dr. Oz that she was in a bad place when she separated from her husband.

At the worst moments, she admits she couldn’t take 100% care of herself: “I was not eating. I was depressed. I was sad.”

For Longoria it was key to get professional help and use positive thinking to get her life back on track.

Releasing

The chaos of the world can make us think we need everything under control, this very feeling brought Jessica Alba to a place of nervousness. She spoke to CosmoGirl about obsessive compulsive disorder: “I used to unplug every single appliance in my house. Or I’d double-check every door in my house to make sure it was locked at night… It was really me needing to control something… It was like a panic came over me and I had to do something.”

She began to focus more on her mental health during the pandemic, knowing that small details and a few practices can make a difference.

In an Instagram video, Alba showed some of her routines that include meditation, exercise, sound baths with Tibetan singing bowls, journaling, time in nature, reading, a good sleep routine and more.

Stopping to redirect the compass

“I know I’m not alone and more important, to all those like me who over schedule, overthink, overwork, over-worry and over-everything, please know you’re not alone,” Ryan Reynolds said in a post about his struggle with anxiety.

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— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) May 26, 2021

For tennis star Naomi Osaka it meant dropping out of the French Open in 2021 to take care of her mental health.

“Perhaps we should give athletes the right to take a mental break from media scrutiny on a rare occasion without being subject to strict sanctions,” she wrote in an essay.

Kit Harington also had to stop after the end of Game of Thrones. In 2019, the actor went into rehab to deal with some mental health issues.

What he had been doing for years in his work took its toll on him.

“I think I took a sort of break after Thrones where I said, ‘I don’t want to work for a year. I want to really kind of concentrate on myself.’ I’m really happy I did that.”

The importance of destigmatizing

“We don’t talk enough about mental health and don’t do enough to destigmatize talking about it…better late than never, I hope,” Ryan Reynolds said.

In a talk for Glamour, Kerry Washington spoke about the importance of addressing these issues publicly and seeking professional help: “My brain and my heart are really important to me. I don’t know why I wouldn’t seek help to have those things be as healthy as my teeth. I go to the dentist. So why wouldn’t I go to a shrink?”

Naomi Osaka said she realized a couple of key lessons: first, you can never please everyone, and second, there are many people with mental health issues. More than we realize.

“Michael Phelps told me that by speaking up I may have saved a life. If that’s true, then it was all worth it,” she said.

Image credits: Daniel Benavides, Gage Skidmore, si.robi, Dick Thomas Johnson, Miguel, Web Summit, Eva Rinaldi, Myles Kalus Anak Jihem and Nicole Alexander