It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you do, mental health can affect us all. As more people come forward to speak about their experiences, slowly but surely barriers are being brought down. Here are just 10 celebrities who are getting candid about their mental health
Robert Webb
When Robert Webb first opened up about his experience with bereavement and a difficult childhood in his 2017 book How Not to Be a Boy, he instantly began breaking down barriers around masculinity. Open about seeing a therapist and his previous struggles with mental health, Robert speaks about the danger of telling boys to ‘man up’, and the importance of being open about our feelings and experiences.
Week made. Boys can be tough AND gentle; caring AND brave; boisterous AND beautiful. They can laugh when amused & cry when it hurts. And I don’t care if they do it in a bloody tiara. The first thing they need is a dad with excellent taste in books. #HNTBAB https://t.co/NJtdCvWUi7
— Robert Webb (@arobertwebb) April 7, 2018
Nadiya Hussain
Rising to fame after winning the 2015 Great British Bake Off, Nadiya Hussain has been open about her experience with anxiety and bullying, recently sharing her journey with therapy in the BBC documentary, Anxiety and Me. Nadiya’s candour about what it feels like to live with anxiety and panic attacks will ring true with many who share her experience.
Zoe Sugg
Since starting her blog in 2009, Zoe Sugg has been a constant source of hope for her millions of followers as she continues to share her experience with anxiety in an honest, relatable way. As mental health charity Mind’s first Digital Ambassador, Zoe reaches out to a generation of people, letting them know that they're not alone.
No matter where you are, who you are with, or what time of day, there is always #TimeToTalk! Don't let the silence of mental health consume you and make you feel worse. Someone will always listen & someone will always feel the same way you do ❤️
— Zoe Sugg (@ZoeSugg) February 1, 2018
Stormzy
The grime artist Stormzy first began talking about his experience with depression on his 2017 album Gang Signs and Prayer. When asked why he chose to share this part of his life in an interview with Channel 4, Stormzy explained: “If there’s anyone out there going through that, I think that for them to see that I went through it would help.”
J.K. Rowling
Open about her experiences with depression and suicidal ideation, the Harry Potter author credits writing the series with helping her get through what was an incredibly difficult time for her mental health. In a revelation that may not come as a surprise to those with similar experiences, J.K. Rowling shared that the figures of Dementors in the series were inspired by her time living with depression – a tool to express a feeling many with be familiar with.
Those stories saved their author, too. Nothing makes me happier than to think that they went out into the world to do the same for other people. Keep that Patronus powerful ✨ https://t.co/d9ByD4WtCo
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 19, 2018
Sophie Turner
Growing up in the spotlight while starring in Game of Thrones was no easy feat, and Sophie Turner has been open about the unique pressure that came with her role of Sansa Stark, resulting in her developing depression. A fierce mental health advocate, speaking out about the lasting effects of online trolling, Sophie is in your corner.
Zayn Malik
When Zayn Malik released a public statement explaining that he was pulling out of a performance due to overwhelming anxiety, he opened up a conversation about the importance of putting your mental health first. In the tweet, he explained that his anxiety had gotten the best of him, and in the months that followed he went on to share his experience with disordered eating in his autobiography, Zayn.
— zayn (@zaynmalik) June 11, 2016
Will Young
Finding fame on Pop Idol in 2002, Will Young knows what it’s like to live life in the public eye. But after pulling out of Strictly Come Dancing after three weeks in 2016, he opened up about what was going on under the surface. Speaking to Bryony Gordon following his exit from the show, he shared that he was living with PTSD and had previously experienced suicidal ideation. A huge advocate for therapy and reaching out for the help that you need, Will continues to talk about the difficult things to progress the conversation.
Something I find works for me, when I'm feeling down, is really just taking time to look after yourself. If you're not feeling up to it, then don't push yourself at the detriment of your own Mental Health. #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek pic.twitter.com/YHhD9hopXu
— Will Young (@willyoung) May 17, 2019
Nicole Scherzinger
At the height of her career with the Pussycat Dolls, Nicole was struggling with body dysmorphia, which later led her to develop an eating disorder. Speaking for the Child Mind Institute, Nicole shared that she would tell her younger self: “You are precious and you have a purpose.”
David Beckham
David Beckham has been speaking about his experience with OCD since 2006, long before it was common to hear such discussions on mainstream media. In 2018, speaking at the AIA Vitality 4490 Summit in Sydney, Australia, David shared how he manages his mental health with mindful activities like walking in the park and building Lego.
Photo of Sophie Turner: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com
