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10 Times Celebs Opened Up About Depression

10 Times Celebs Opened Up About Depression
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VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu WRITTEN BY: Arianna Wechter
In this powerful compilation, we explore touching moments where beloved stars shared their mental health journeys. From Olympic champions to pop icons, these celebrities prove that mental health struggles can affect anyone, regardless of fame or success. Their courage in speaking up helps break stigmas and inspires others. Our list features candid revelations from stars like Lady Gaga, Michael Phelps, Demi Lovato, and Simone Biles, who've used their platforms to advocate for mental health awareness and support. Join us as we highlight these important conversations that are changing lives and perspectives.

Kristen Bell

The Frozen actress has detailed her experiences with several dark periods throughout her career. In an article she penned in 2016, Kristen Bell was candid about how debilitating her episodes were and how they completely morphed her personality. And she didnt just stop thereshe also urged people to be more supportive and less judgmental of one another through tough times. Since then, Bell has been more open about her emotions and has used her platform as a public figure to help destigmatize mental health struggles and to shift public perception.

Naomi Osaka

Winning something as significant as the US Open may seem like the happiest moment of a tennis players life. But following her win against Serena Williams in 2018, Naomi Osaka fell into a dark downward spiral. Things came to a head in 2021, when she withdrew from both the French Open and Wimbledon to focus more on improving her mental health and personal relationships. Shortly after, she wrote a personal essay for Time magazine defending her decisions. In it, she called for greater understanding of athletes as human beingsand for easing expectations placed on them both on and off the court. She also shared a simple, yet powerful message: its okay to struggle and to ask for help.

Megan Thee Stallion

Even those who appear the most confident can be struggling beneath the surface. After being shot by Tory Lanez in 2020, Megan Thee Stallion entered a dark period, which was only deepened by relentless scrutiny. In a 2024 interview with Womens Health, she was blunt about how it affected her mindset and relationship with fame. She broke down her experience, from how she would become emotional before shows to having several days where she wouldnt even want to get out of bed. However, with the proper guidance, Megan was able to implement positive changes like working out and deleting social media. Shes also been able to channel her darker emotions into her music, helping her grow both as a person and an artist.

Taraji P. Henson

Encouraging people to get help with their mental health isnt easyespecially when theyve been conditioned not to ask for it. In an interview with Variety in 2019, Taraji P. Henson was open about how depression impacted her lifeand how social media and a loss of privacy exacerbated it. She also highlighted the importance of a qualified therapistand that sometimes you have to keep trying until you find the right fit. Her advocacy doesnt just begin and end with herself. Shes also been vocal about how untreated health issues have affected the African-American community. Henson even started her own foundation to encourage those in underrepresented populations to seek the assistance they deserve.

Pete Davidson

For many, humor is the ultimate coping mechanism for handling depressive episodes. Pete Davidson has embodied this in his own work, utilizing self-deprecating and often facetious jokes to express his struggles with borderline personality disorder. He first detailed his mental health struggles in a 2017 interview, where he disclosed his diagnosis and how it impacted his life and career. Since then, hes been open with the public about his emotionseven disclosing some of his most intrusive thoughts he had during a dark period in his life in 2018. His ability to laugh at his pain hasnt just helped him; its also encouraged some of his fans to seek professional guidance themselves.


Selena Gomez

When it comes to all aspects of health, Selena Gomez has been one of the most outspoken. In addition to the physical challenges she faces, shes also been willing to reveal the issues caused by her mental health. Shes been open about being in therapy since young adulthoodand how her negative feelings were exacerbated after hitting 100,000,000 followers on Instagram. She even checked herself into rehab to focus on her well-being after the cancellation of part of her 2016 tour. Her strength in continuing to seek help despite all of the struggles thrown her way has remained an inspiration for fans and casual listeners alike.

Simone Biles

Even Olympic champions arent immune to depressive thoughts. Though shes won several medals while representing the United States in the international games, Simone Biles still manages to put her own mental health first. This was most apparent during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she withdrew from the competition partway through. This marked the beginning of a trend of Biles prioritizing her well-being over winninga controversial yet imperative decision. She also advocated for other athletes to do the same, warning that ignoring their struggles could eventually lead to a dislike of their sport. Through her openness, shes inspired other Olympians to acknowledge their own emotional struggles.

Michael Phelps

Even the highest highslike becoming an Olympic championcan result in the lowest of lows. Michael Phelps is one of the most highly-decorated athletes to have competed, with 28 medals to his name. Yet, after each international competition, he reported entering a period of Post-Olympic depressionto the point of contemplating his own life. Things came to a head following the 2012 games, when he reportedly didnt leave his room for several days following his highly successful run. However, hes managed to take his own pain and turn it into a lesson for othersparticularly on the importance of allowing oneself to be vulnerable with others.

Lady Gaga

Things can be hard for anyoneeven for beloved pop stars like Lady Gaga, who admitted that just thinking of her fame was enough to exacerbate her depression. Shes been able to channel that pain through her musicparticularly her 2020 album Chromatica. In an interview with Variety, she went in-depth on how it helped her accept every aspect of herselfeven those that were darker, such as her previous bouts with self-harm. Shes even been able to use her experiences to aid others, expanding the Born This Way Foundation in 2019 to introduce a service for youth struggling with mental health.

Demi Lovato

Even if celebrities open up about their mental health, there are some that arent as forward about how theyve truly been impacted by it. Demi Lovatos unapologetic honesty regarding her own struggles has been refreshing, allowing those that arent famous to see that anyone can go through it. Since childhood, shes faced several bouts of severe depression, which led her to rehab at just 18. Shes been open about the negative coping mechanisms she used when she was youngerand has since advocated for other youths to have access to proper health resources. Though shes bared some of the darkest aspects of her life to do so, shes been able to normalize speaking up about the most chilling effects of untreated mental illness.



Which celebrity's battle with depression inspires you the most? Let us know in the comments below!

MsMojo celebrity mental health depression awareness mental health advocacy Lady Gaga depression Demi Lovato mental health Michael Phelps depression Simone Biles mental health Pete Davidson BPD Selena Gomez therapy Naomi Osaka mental health celebrity confessions mental health stigma Kristen Bell anxiety Taraji P Henson depression Megan Thee Stallion healing Celebrity Hollywood watchmojo watch mojo top 10 list mojo
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