Celebrities are speaking out on social media Saturday with some sharing their own struggles with mental illness to recognize World Mental Health Day.
Mindy Kaling, who just revealed she gave birth to her second child after keeping her pregnancy a secret, tweeted an encouraging message to her followers letting them know “it’s OK to not be OK.”
“It’s a tough world out there and we need to be there for each other. If you’re struggling, please reach out to a friend, family member, or anyone! Your mental health matters. You matter,” she wrote.
Actress Lily Collins took to Instagram to share a photo and an excerpt from a book that reads: “You deserve happiness. You deserve to be loved just as you love others. You deserve everything.” She also captioned the post with a message asking others to be kind to each other.
“It’s impossible to tell, from the outside, what people are really going through,” Collins wrote. “Self-love isn’t selfish, it’s self-care. Don’t be afraid to put yourself first and prioritize healing and happiness. Let’s continue to put kindness back into the world towards ourselves and others- we all need it.”
Alyssa Milano resurfaced a first person essay she wrote for Time two years ago where she opened up about her anxiety.
“Maybe you can relate. Tell me I’m not alone,” she tweeted along with a link to her article. In the column, Milano opens up about experiencing her first anxiety attack after giving birth to her first child in 2011 and reveals she committed herself to a psychiatric ward due to her anxiety.
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“This is Us” star Sterling K. Brown reminded people that they are not alone.
“Even an astronaut has an entire team devoted to helping and guiding their journey up in space. Reach out to friends and family, encourage and listen to one another, take time to breathe, and don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Brown tweeted alongside a photo of an astronaut in space.
Carmela Wallace, the mother of late rapper Juice WRLD, wrote an open letter to announce a new website for LiveFree999, an organization she created in honor of her son that aims to address substance dependency and mental health challenges. In the letter, Wallace opened up about her Juice WRLD’s (real name Jarad Anthony Higgins) struggles with mental health.
The rapper died on Dec. 8, just six days after his 21st birthday from an accidental overdose.
“Jarad and I often had frank discussions about his struggles with addiction, anxiety and depression. I think he felt comfortable being honest with me because I never judged him. I recognized that what Jarad was dealing with was a disease and I know he truly wanted to be free from the demons that tormented him,” Wallace wrote, according to Variety and Billboard. “As a parent, I believed early on and supported Jarad having access to counseling.”
If you or someone you know may be struggling with self-harm or suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, or chat online.
Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
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