Mental Health Stories Inspiring Minority Community Healing
Battling mental illness can be lonely, especially if you keep your struggles to yourself. That’s why when well-known figures from minority backgrounds are willing to open up about their mental health difficulties, it can have a positive ripple effect and promote real community healing. Read on for minority mental health stories of how celebrities you may know have dealt with bouts of mental illness; their recovery testimonials may just inspire you to own your story and seek the support you need.
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Simone Biles Puts Self-Care First
Gymnast Simone Biles had been no stranger to performing under pressure, racking up 25 medals before the age of 30. But in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the stress began to catch up with her. While participating in the qualifying round, she experienced a frightening phenomenon called “the twisties,” in which gymnasts become disoriented as they flip and spin through the air.
Ultimately, that uncomfortable feeling persisted, causing her to drop out of the Olympics before finishing all the events. Biles explains how athletes are up against this kind of pressure constantly, sharing, “At the end of the day, we’re not just athletes or entertainment. We’re human, too, and we have emotions and feelings and things that we’re working through behind the scenes that we don’t tell you guys about. And so, I just think it’s something that people should be more aware of.”
By spreading awareness about her mental health stories, Biles normalized it, opening the door for others in the community to do the same.
“The word ‘champion’ used to just mean being on top or breaking records,” Biles states in an interview with Good Housekeeping. “Now it means being vulnerable, showing your inner strength, being courageous.”
Kerry Washington Takes Care of Her Brain
Actress Kerry Washington, perhaps best known for starring in the popular TV show Scandal, hasn’t been shy about sharing her mental health stories. In a 2015 interview, she highlighted how our society doesn’t shame people for caring for their physical health and advocated treating mental health the same way.
“I say that publicly because I think it’s really important to take the stigma away from mental health,” Washington explains. “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?”
Hopefully, sensible points of view like Washington’s encourage others in the community to feel empowered to seek professional mental health services. It shouldn’t feel any more shameful than getting your teeth cleaned or visiting the doctor for an annual physical.
Mariah Carey Shares Her Diagnosis Publicly
Despite being aware of her diagnosis of bipolar disorder for many years, singer and songwriter Mariah Carey was hesitant to share her mental health story publicly. In 2018, she finally decided to be open and honest, explaining, “It was too heavy a burden to carry, and I simply couldn’t do that anymore. I sought and received treatment, I put positive people around me and I got back to doing what I love — writing songs and making music.”
Bipolar disorder isn’t an uncommon diagnosis. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 2.8% of U.S. adults experience it in a given year. So by sharing her mental health story, Carey taps into the power of representation, hopefully helping others feel less burdened by the disorder and showing that there is happiness and love on the other side of receiving treatment.
Naomi Osaka Prioritizes Her Well-Being
Tennis champion Naomi Osaka has won four Grand Slam titles. But in 2021, she made headlines for a different reason. Ahead of the French Open, she announced she wouldn’t take part in post-match press conferences to protect her mental health. Osaka also shared that she had dealt with depression since the 2018 U.S. Open.
After being fined and threatened with further penalties, Osaka withdrew from the tournament entirely. “I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer. More importantly, I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly,” she explained, per CNN. By naming her struggles publicly, Osaka helped shift the conversation around athlete mental health.
Selena Gomez Finds Relief in Her Diagnosis
Singer and actress Selena Gomez has been candid about both her physical and mental health for years. After living with anxiety, panic attacks and depression, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. For Gomez, the diagnosis “finally allowed me to go, ‘Oh, that’s why I handled things the way I handled them. That’s why all the other people were able to get over things quickly and I wasn’t,'” she said on the Friends Keep Secrets podcast, per Parade.
Gomez has also managed lupus, an autoimmune condition, which at times intensified her emotional struggles. Rather than hide her diagnosis, she’s spoken openly about it and built mental health advocacy into her work. She has described her bipolar diagnosis as something that allows her to live more freely, and she encourages others to keep seeking answers.
Demi Lovato Turns Struggle Into Advocacy
Singer and actress Demi Lovato has been open about living with bipolar disorder, alongside addiction and an eating disorder. She entered rehab at 18 and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during treatment, and she’s said that getting a diagnosis brought a sense of relief. She finally had a name for what she’d been feeling, which helped her understand why she’d struggled for so long.
Lovato has turned that experience into action. She launched a campaign with several mental health advocacy organizations to encourage people living with mental health issues to speak up for themselves. When discussing her advocacy work, the singer told Today: “I needed to be the role model that I needed at 13, because I knew that there were 13-year-olds out there that were still struggling.”
Jennifer Lopez Gets Real About Anxiety
It’s easy to believe that superstars like singer and actress Jennifer Lopez have nothing to worry about. But by sharing her mental health stories in her book True Love, Lopez shows that no one is immune to anxiety and the impact it can have on one’s physical health and relationships.
Lopez writes, “I had worked maybe 55 days in a row without a day off and shooting on a film, and I just one day was walking towards the set, and every time I walked towards the set my heart would start beating, and I would start getting frightened.”
On one occasion, her vision blurred on set, and she went to the hospital, where a doctor told her she needed to put her mental health first. “The truth is, I wasn’t taking care of myself at all. I wasn’t loving myself at all,” Lopez explains. “All I was thinking about was pleasing everyone else and showing everybody else that I could do all these things and that I was fine. […] I have to take care of myself first before I can take care of anyone else.”
The responsibilities of everyday life can make it difficult to carve out time to care for your mental health, but Lopez’s point is salient. If you aren’t at your best, you can’t do your best for others. Seeking mental health treatment is the opposite of a selfish act.
Recovery Testimonials Help Foster Community Healing
Though each of these celebrity mental health journeys is unique, they all highlight the importance of speaking out and being honest with yourself when you need mental health support. At FHE Health, we strive to bring that same openness to how we support our patients.
Sometimes, seeing how others have overcome their struggles can give you the hope you need to get through your own. By sharing mental health stories, seeking treatment and communicating the benefits of that treatment to others, a ripple effect of community healing can occur.
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Treatment can begin quickly and discreetly, get started now
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More Mental Health Stories From Public Figures
The figures above are far from alone. Many public figures spoke about their mental health, and we’ve covered their stories in depth:
- Emma Stone. The Oscar-winning actress has spoken about living with anxiety and panic attacks since childhood, and how performing helped her cope.
- Lady Gaga. The pop icon has been a vocal mental health advocate, using her platform to support young people facing similar struggles.
- Maisie Williams. The actress has been candid about her experiences with anxiety and depression during her rise to fame.
- Drew Barrymore. The actress and talk show host has reflected openly on her struggles with substance use as a teen.
- Liam Payne. The musician spoke about seeking treatment and the pressures that came with early fame.
- Macaulay Culkin. The former child star has discussed his battle with substance addiction and his path forward.
- Whitney Houston. The legendary singer’s story remains a powerful reminder of how addiction can affect anyone.
- Sushant Singh Rajput. The Bollywood actor’s story brought mental health into the spotlight for audiences across India and beyond.
You can also explore our roundups of celebrities in recovery and public figures who choose not to drink.
Share Your Own Mental Health Stories
If you’ve been struggling with your mental health, know that you aren’t alone and help is available. As you’ve seen with the celebrity stories above, sharing your mental health stories with a professional can be incredibly healing. At FHE, our mental health professionals are ready and waiting to provide you with compassionate care. Our team of experts is available 24/7, so don’t hesitate to contact us anytime and begin your healing journey. A happier, calmer, more fulfilling life is possible. Take the first step toward that life today.
