Mental illness often goes unchecked because there is still a stigma surrounding mental health, but many celebrities have come forward to openly discuss their battles with depression and mental illness, sparking conversation about the issue. As these celebs show, there is no shame in seeking help and no shame in being open about mental health.
Carey opened up about battling bipolar disorder in a recent issue of People, telling the publication that she finally sought treatment after dealing with “the hardest couple of years I’ve been through.”
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Yeezy is reportedly afraid of spiders, which makes sense because there is no reason for anything to have eight legs.
Gucci Mane – In 2011, Gucci was committed to a mental facility for mental health treatment and an evaluation after stating that he could not “intelligently participate” in a probation hearing. He recently revealed on The Breakfast Club, “I don’t think I had depression, but I was super frustrated and stressed out. Right before I got locked up I had five or six pending cases, I was mad. I think I was homicidal, I wanted to hurt somebody and I felt like that would make me feel better.” He added that he no longer felt that way, but admitted, “At that time if you would have stepped on my shoe I would have felt like you just tried me.”
Twitter was ablaze earlier this week after R&B singer Kehlani attempted to take her own life. In a now deleted Instagram post, Kehlani stated. “I’m not a bad person… everyone is hurt and everyone is in a place of misunderstanding.. But as of today, I had no single wish to see tomorrow.” Thankfully, the singer is recovering.
In 2010, Barrino attempted to take her own life after overdosing on aspirin and sleep pills. The singer shared that her depression was caused by years of emotions building up, “I think I was just overloaded with everything, with carrying six years of so much.”
In an exclusive ESSENCE reveal, Ally McBeal and Love Jones star Lisa Nicole Carson opened up about her years-long battle with bipolar disorder. “I’m tackling the myth that African-American women have to be pillars of strength. We have the right to fall,” she said.
Everyone’s favorite TV grandma spent years hiding her mental illness before sharing it with the world. The Black-ish actress revealed that she suffers from bipolar disorder and was diagnosed in 1990. She deals with the illness everyday, but tries to remember to take care of herself. “You have to look in the mirror … and say—before you can go or grow into anything—you have to say you love yourself.”
In 2011, NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Together with his wife Michi, Brandon started Project375, “to help others suffering from a mental illness or disorder.”
In a 2007 issue of Parade, Berry revealed that she tried to commit suicide after her split from David Justice caused her to go into a deep depression. “I was sitting in my car, and I knew the gas was coming when I had an image of my mother finding me.” Thinking of how her mother would feel is the image that saved her.
The singer and Destiny’s Child member opened up about her battle with depression a few years ago and shared that she felt it was time to let others know about her experience with the illness so that, hopefully, they would feel encouraged to seek help. “You never know what people are going through,” she said. “They can have the best hair and makeup in the world, wear the most fabulous designer clothes, be at every red carpet event, but still be unhappy.”
In an interview with PEOPLE, the former Saved by the Bell star’s mother revealed that her daughter was living with bipolar disorder.
The iconic singer suffered from bouts of depression and bipolar disorder throughout her life. However, this information was kept private until after her death in 2003.
In 2011, the rapper told Arizona’s ABC 15, that he struggled with bipolar disorder and drug addiction.
The tennis icon suffered from depression after an injury and pulmonary embolism led to surgery, which left her on the sidelines for months.
The Soul Train creator battled depression for years before taking his own life in 2012.
Though she sad she had been “cured,” the Grammy-winning singer once revealed having taken medication for bipolar disorder.
