Mental Illness on the Red Carpet
Emma Stone, Hayden Panettiere, Justin Bieber, Halsey, Cara Delevingne, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Adele, Kerry Washington, Lena Dunham, Wayne Brady. These are among the A-list celebrities who have publically spoken about their past and present struggles with mental health. From personal accounts of anxiety and depression to heartbreaking stories about eating disorders and body dysmorphia to passionate discussions about therapy and medication, the messages about mental illness that these stars are spreading are as unique and diverse as their talents and backgrounds. As time goes on, the list of celebrities who are willing to speak out continues to grow.
Although it might not seem like it on the surface, celebrity’s contributions to the conversation about mental health are revolutionary. One of the most important parts about their involvement is that it does a great deal to invalidate the stigma surrounding mental illness, something that affects more people than we may realize. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 1 in 5 adults experiences mental illness within a given year. Of this staggering number tallying about 43.8 million people, only 41% receive treatment. There are many factors which contribute to whether or not an individual seeks professional help, but one of the most prominent is the negative attention many people fear they might receive from their communities. They fear that they’ll be judged based on false stereotypes that cast the mentally ill as weak, whiny or even self-absorbed. This sort of fear makes it hard for honest discussions about mental health to happen. When celebrities speak up about mental health, however, the public sees that even glamorous, talented people who have it all, are still vulnerable to mental illness. We see that mental illness can affect anyone, even the people that we admire most, and any misconceptions we have about mental illness are cast aside.
The fact that celebrities are admired by lots of people makes a huge impact as well. The media already pays so much attention to these stars, which means that their encouraging messages about mental health are sure to be extensively spread and widely accepted. In addition, these actors and singers and athletes serve as role models, the very people many of us aspire to be. To see them be so open about something as personal and devastating as mental illness inspires many people to overcome their vulnerability and be honest about their own troubles. This is especially important to many young people, who may not have anyone else to look up to in this situation. For some, this might be what reminds them that they are not alone in their plight against mental illness.
As mental health issues are becoming more and more prominent in the media, the conversation continues to spread. Little by little, something that was once a full-blown social taboo is becoming a topic we can all discuss openly. In many ways, celebrities have been trailblazers. What they have done will only truly make a difference if we continue in their footsteps and pass on our messages and stories along with our own.