May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we must have dialogue around mental health struggles. While we should be having these conversations year-round, we should use this month, in particular, to shed light on it. Celebrity culture can be riddled with meaningless gossip and salacious rumors, but many of these public figures have been transparent about their struggles.
These individuals have massive platforms and using them to speak up about their mental health battles can positively impact someone’s life. Inspiration comes in all forms and you never know who might benefit from hearing these stories. Check out our list of eight celebrities who have been transparent as it relates to their mental health.
1. Michelle Williams
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Many of us have come to love Michelle Williams for giving us some of the most iconic discographies from her time in Destiny’s Child and during her solo career. That love also stems from Williams’ transparency surrounding her mental health. Williams, who authored Checking In: How Getting Real about Depression Saved My Life — and Can Save Yours, believes that having these candid conversations normalizes the stigma surrounding it.
“Let’s normalize it and let people know it’s actually strength. You’re displaying strength, not weakness if you’re having a rough time emotionally or mentally,” Williams told Blavity News.
2. Keke Palmer
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Keke Palmer is one of the fiercest multi-hyphenates to grace the world, but she’s faced some of the same issues as everyone else — anxiety and depression.
In an interview with Essence, Palmer candidly revealed that she would have loved to let her younger self know that things would be okay. “We all have our trials and errors with different things in our lives. Everything is not the end of the world. I realized as I got older, I would love to have told myself that.”
3. Lizzo
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Lizzo has made us all feel good as h*** with her music, but the superstar doesn’t always feel that way herself.
In an interview with Variety, the singer divulged that while she might have immense fame, her feelings of anxiety and depression didn’t go away. “Fame happens to you, and it’s more of an observation of you. People become famous, and it’s like — my DNA didn’t change. Nothing changed about me. My anxiety didn’t go away. My depression didn’t go away.”
4. Megan Thee Stallion
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Megan Thee Stallion is at the top of her game right now and has been ever since she debuted. The recent college graduate opened up to Taraji P. Henson on Peace of Mind with Taraji about the importance of mental health to her now.
“I feel like right now mental health is more important to me more than ever because I have more pressure on me than I feel like I used to have. When I was Megan and I wasn’t as criticized and under such a magnifying glass as I am now.”
5. Big Sean
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This Detroit native, known for his impeccable swag and lyrics, has been an advocate for mental health in the past and the power of therapy. While celebrating his birthday in March, the “Guap” rapper shared on Instagram that his therapist helped him realize that clarity was something he needed more of in his life.
“The deal was, I started therapy, I got a good therapist. I was blessed enough to talk to some super spiritual people. They made me realize one thing I was missing in my life, and the one thing I was missing was clarity. Clarity about who was around me, what I was doing.”
6. Jay-Z
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Mr. Shawn Carter, also known as Jay-Z, has always used his platform to help a multitude of people, and it’s wonderful to know that he has been transparent about his relationship with therapy. The mogul shared that being aware of one’s emotions is not only important, but it’s also an advantage.
“I think the most important thing I got is that everything is connected. Every emotion is connected and it comes from somewhere. And just being aware of it. Being aware of it in everyday life puts you at such a… you’re at such an advantage.”
7. Kid Cudi
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Taking control of one’s mental health is so hard yet so important. We owe Kid Cudi a major shoutout for being vocal about his decision to seek help on his journey to sobriety. During his appearance on Red Table Talk, Cudi revealed how he came to such a decision.
“I was really worried, and I kinda like had that moment where I was just like, ‘Do I really wanna get back on drugs and do cocaine again? Do I really wanna go back on this journey at 32?’ I woke up one morning, and I was just thinking like, ‘Man, this isn’t healthy. And I don’t know what else to do but get some help and find someplace I can go.’ And I found a place.”
8. Brandon Marshall
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There’s nothing more special than having the support of your partner when it comes to major life transitions. Former NFL player Brandon Marshall and his wife became advocates for mental health awareness once he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The athlete revealed to People that real strength lies in connecting with one’s emotions.
“I was raised in a community where you didn’t admit to any weakness. As a football player, you never show weakness to your opponent. But when you think about it, connecting with those emotions is the real strength.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, we encourage you to reach out to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org.
