For those in the spotlight, talking about mental health has long been taboo. But now, celebrities are increasingly going public with their mental health struggles, using their fame to help destigmatize seeking help. From gymnastics superstar Simone Biles withdrawing from the Olympic Games in Tokyo amid mental health concerns to Prince Harry opening up about his decades-long battle with trauma and grief, taking care of one’s mind is more accepted than ever.
Such efforts to dismantle stigma are critical, psychologists say, because negative stereotypes about mental health care prevent people from seeking help. Research suggests that in the United States, as many as half of people with mental health issues do not receive adequate care (Kohn, R., et al., Pan American Journal of Public Healthopens in new window, Vol. 42, 2018; Corrigan, P. W., et al., Psychological Science in the Public Interestopens in new window, Vol. 15, No. 2, 2014).
“That gap isn’t due to stigma alone, but stigma clearly dissuades many people from going into treatment,” said Patrick Corrigan, PhD, a professor of psychology at the Illinois Institute of Technology and editor of the APA journal Stigma and Healthopens in new window.
Celebrities who speak publicly about their mental health challenges—for example, when singer and actress Selena Gomez described seeking helpopens in new window for anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder—can even increase knowledge and advocacy around a condition in the population at large (Beck, C. S., et al., Health Communicationopens in new window, Vol. 29, No. 3, 2014).
“Celebrities are used to selling everything from clothes to cars to lifestyles,” said Douglas Gentile, PhD, a professor of psychology at Iowa State University who studies the effects of media. “Seeing celebrities openly discuss mental health and the benefits of therapy relies on the same learning and persuasion principles that are known to be effective in influencing the public.”
Celebrity mental health disclosures don’t always improve the public’s perception of mental illness. Corrigan and his colleagues compared pop icon Mariah Carey’s self-disclosure of bipolar disorder with a similar story about a noncelebrity, Malia Fontecchio, and found that participants perceived the noncelebrity as more similar to them and more likeable. Reading Fontecchio’s story also led to a greater reduction in reported stigma (Community Mental Health Journalopens in new window, 2021).
“People think Mariah is more famous, but they also think, ‘She’s not like me,’ so it tends to have a more muted effect on changing stigma,” Corrigan said.
Some pop culture icons are also leveraging their public influence by launching organizations that raise awareness about mental health (Calhoun, A. J., & Gold, J. A., Academic Psychiatryopens in new window, Vol. 44, 2020). Singer and songwriter Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundationopens in new window works with youth to promote kindness and eliminate mental health stigma, and actress Taraji P. Henson’s Boris Lawrence Henson Foundationopens in new window—named for her father, who struggled with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder—addresses stigma and promotes mental wellness in Black communities.
Professional athletes, including Naomi Osaka, Aly Raisman, and Michael Phelps, are also fighting stereotypes with their candor about the pressures of competition and the need to prioritize mental health. Such disclosures may motivate fans and spectators to seek support, said Jamie Shapiro, PhD, a mental performance consultant who works with Olympic and Paralympic athletes and is past president of APA’s Division 47 (Society for Sport, Exercise, & Performance Psychology).
“Who better than athletes to show that it is not weak or shameful to talk about mental health?” said Olympic runner Alexi Pappas, who has spoken publiclyopens in new window about her depression.
“If we think about taking care of our mind the same way athletes think about taking care of their bodies, the shame goes away,” she said. “It becomes a question of health and peak performance.”
