Celebrities who’ve shared mental health experiences

[Willow Jude]

Hi everyone!

With Summer Rose’s great question last month about who we would bring to our virtual Big Blue Table, as well as recent coverage of Selena Gomez’s struggle with Bipolar Disorder, I was inspired to see if there are any celebrities or public figures whose discussion of their own mental health issues has brought you comfort, inspiration, someone to identify with, etc, either though them sharing your particular diagnosis or experiences, or just being a visible figure who has experienced mental illness in general. 

My main two, both of whom have helped me feel not alone in my diagnoses, have been Bill Hader who has shared his journey with anxiety, and Pete Davidson who has discussed his struggles with Borderline Personality Disorder. 

While some of the people who could fit this category may be polarising/not everyone’s cup of tea (one of my examples included!) or may have made some poor decisions in the past, hopefully we can appreciate their sharing of their mental health experiences with the understanding that that doesn’t necessarily mean we agree with all of their choices. 

I’m looking forward to hearing other members’ perspectives on this!

- WJ

[quirkywords]

Patty Duke was one of the first to come out and reveal she had bipolar back i early 1980s. Who is PattyDuke I heard young people and people who didn’t know movies or actresses in USA. As a child actor she played Helen Keller in. Miracle worker. She had a tv show in th 1960s called the Patty duke show. 
she spoke honestly about her illness and was an advocate for mental health at a time when there was much stigma and misinformation.

she wrote a few books one called Call me Anna. 

[Willow Jude]

Wow, thanks for sharing quirkywords! I have to admit I began reading your post not knowing who Patty Duke was, but I have heard of her roles in the adaptations of the Miracle Worker and, after reading up on her, remember hearing about her as the mother of actor Sean Astin and seeing her in episode of Glee. It sounds like she was a great advocate for mental health. I'm so glad to have learned something new from your response, thank you! 

[Fiatlux]

Hi Willow Jude,

Mental Illness in Hollywood is not new... Everyone in Hollywood has a Therapist. At one point that's all I ever heard CELEBRITIES talk about. It was common and many made a joke of it. I understand it now. Being in the public eye would drive me insane. I think Comedians would have high anxiety levels.

The greatest loss that came to mind was the wonderful Robin Williams (RIP). He was a genius. 

[jaz28]

I second Selena and Pete, I do not have Bipolar or BPD, but they both also struggle with autoimmune conditions - Selena with Lupus and Pete with Crohn's disease. I have a form of Crohn's so Pete is one of my favourite celebrities out there and an inspiration for me too, and Selena's struggle with her chronic lupus and kidney transplant is very inspirational! It helps to normalise these things and recognise that celebrities also go through these hard health and mental health struggles as well - they are just like us. I also find Michael Jackson (RIP) inspiring, but only specifically with his insane talent and struggle with Vitiligo, chronic pain and discoid lupus throughout his life as well as childhood trauma (if you set this aside from the allegations). 

And also Fiatlux, I agree with Robin Williams. RIP 😞

[quirkywords]

Celia Pacquola

Felicity Ward

are both Australian comedians who talk about. Entail health in their comedy shows. They have both had babies so their shows will talk about babies and mental health.

[QuietOak]

Thanks for asking this question. Reading and learning from others has been a great support for me and I always welcome new reccomendations. One of the first I came across was Osher Gunsberg who also has podcast. He has shared very openly through his writing and podcast on his anxiety and depression. I also got a lot from reading Stephen Fry and Russell Brand. 

[quirkywords]

Thanks quietoak for mentioned well deserved names. 
I have seen Stephen fry’s one man show in australia several years ago.

1. I know of rusell brand but for comedy not mental health.
2. Osher Ginsberg had a very difficult journey and his honesty is helping others. 

[smallwolf]

Will Wheaton - I first heard of him through Big Bang Theory, and sometime between then and now, he was on or mentioned on a podcast I was listening to and his story was helpful to me. You only have to google his name to find his story. 

[Willow Jude]

Thanks Fiatlux, jaz28, quirkywords, QuietOak, and smallwolf for your great input! Lots of public figures here whose mental health issues I wasn't aware of, or that I may have heard of in the past but had forgotten about. I have loved reading all of your responses, including your perspectives on how these celebrities' discussion of their illnesses has come into and impacted your lives/journeys. 

Thanks everyone!