20 Celebrities That Suffered from Mental Illness
Mental illness is a serious disease. Sometimes it can be hard to know if someone is going through depression. It can easily be masked by smiles and awkward behavior. Celebrities are no different. If anything it is worse for them because they don’t have the privacy to deal with their illness in private. Every piece of their life is an open book even if they do not want to it to be. This post is to shine a light on celebrities that have mental illnesses. Some have unfortunately passed away because of it. I encourage everyone to treat celebrities as just as a normal person when they are dealing with depression. Memes and jokes should not be made about anyone depression.’20 Celebrities That Suffered From Mental Illness.’
If you or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts please contact 911. If you need someone to talk to and you are not in any immediate danger call the Toll Free National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255. And please remember this, “There is always a rainbow after the storm.”
1. Tamar Braxton
Tamar Braxton is the baby sister of Toni Braxton. However, over the years she has made a huge name for herself. To name a few of her highlights, Tamar Braxton was one of the hosts of the show “The Real” and the long-running family tv show “The Braxton Family Values”. On her family show, she spoke on how she was battling emotional feelings, with childhood trauma, problems in her marriage which lead to a divorce and other problems. Tamar Braxton was found unresponsive in her hotel room on July 16th,2020, from a failed suicide attempt.
2. Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson has been in the limelight since a young child. Once he became a teenager he dealt with depression from the skin issues that he had, which discolored his skin. This was an ongoing battle with the media making a mockery of his condition. This caused Miachel to shelter himself and went into a state of depression for years, prior to his death.
3. Brittney Spears
Brittney Spears battled depression after her prime. In 2007 and 2008 she went through very public meltdowns like shaving all her hair off. Since then she has been in and out of physiatric facilities. She eventually was given a court-ordered conservatorship. That is designed for people who can not take care of themselves. It has been said since this Brittney depression is still very much alive because she literally has no control over her life.
4. Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith was a model since 1992. She was featured as the model spokesperson for Guess Jeans in 1992. Anna Nicole Smith’s downward spiral started or at least was noticed after her husband died in 1995. There was a long drawn out trial over her late husband’s inheritance. Anna spoke on her depression from childhood trauma and physical abuse from her son’s father. Her son Daniel died unexpectedly on September 10th,2006. She had her daughter Dannielynn on September 7th,2006. Anna had a very close mother and son bond with her son. As she said they were best friends. When Daniel died, Anna was very depressed and started numbing emotional pain with self-medicating. Unfortunately, it lead to her untimely demise on February 8th,2007.
5. Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has been very open and candid about her having a bi polar disorder and depression. She continues to seek treatment through therapy.
6.Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy Teigan spoke of having postpartum depression after having her daughter Luna. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of 9 women is affected by postpartum depression. Chrissy spoke of feeling detached, a loss of appetite, and physical pain. She also went on to say how she would never leave the house unless it was for work.
“I’d ask people who came inside why they were wet. Was it raining? How would I know, I had every shade closed.”
Chrissy Teigen, Glamour
7. Nene Leakes
On the Bravo network tv show, ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’, Nene Leakes said a lot of her actions of shutting down or lashing out was due to her depression. Her depression started from the stress of her husband, Greg having cancer and then the strain that it put on their marriage. Thankfully, her husband is in remission and their marriage is thriving.
8.Toni Braxton
In 1998, Toni Braxton had to file for bankruptcy. This sent her into a downward spiral of depression. In her tell all, she speaks on other issues in her life including her diagnosis of Lupus. But she has continued to stay graceful and bring herself back to a place of happiness.
9. Justin Biber
In 2019, Justin Biber was very candid in a letter to his fans. He described being a 13 year old from a small town, to everyone loving and praising him. He said he could get whatever he wanted and had no sense of responsibility. He admits to heavy drug use. Which turned him to be distant to his loved ones. But since he has cleaned up his life and has become a loving Christian husband, to his wife, Hailey Baldwin.
10. Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner said on their family tv show “Keeping up with the Kardashians”, how she suffers from anxiety. On Good Morning America. she said she would have ‘crazy panic attacks’. She has since gotten treatment to help.
11. Kylie Jenner
Despite Kylie Jenner being confident in the limelight. That does not mean she has not been victim to mental illness. Kylie Jenner mentioned in __ how she often was not happy with her appearance. And this sent her into a state of depression.
12. Martin Lawrence
In 1995, while taping the movie ‘A Thin Line Between Love and Hate’, Martin suffered a nervous breakdown. He admits he was treated for depression.
13. Kid Cudi
In 2016, Kid Cudi was checked into rehab for suicidal thoughts and depression. He once quoted, “I turn my pain into music. Anxiety and depression ruled my life for as long as I could remember.”
14. Keke Palmer
Keke Palmer said that she has always had anxiety through her childhood. And with her being in the limelight at such a young age caused her to suffer from depression.
15. Tyrese
In 2017, Tyrese was seen on social media having a meltdown as for issues that he was having with his daughter’s mother, which he was not able to see his daughter. Tyrese blamed his antidepressant medication for his meltdown.
16. Taraji P. Henson
“My anxiety is kicking up, even more, every day, and I’ve never really dealt with anxiety like that. It’s something new.”
Taraji P. Henson, Variety
In 2019, Taraji P. Henson sat down with Variety and shared that she suffers from depression and anxiety. Her advice is to seek professional help. You can talk to family and friends about it. But you still need to seek professional help because those are the only ones that can talk you off the ledge because they know how the human brain works.
17. Ginuwine
Ginuwine spoke about how he attempted to kill himself multiple times after his father’s own suicide in 1999, and his mother passing from cancer in 2000.”I didn’t want to be here anymore.” Ginuwine did seek professional help and was able to overcome his suicidal battles.
18. Rob Kardashian
Rob Kardashian has gone through depression on his family show “Keeping up with the Kardashians”. Rob packed on over 100 lbs. in a short time span. This sent Rob into a depression. Rob would not leave the house or go to family events as it was documented on their television show. His family has tried to intervene several times with not much success. From recent reports, Rob Kardashian seems to be more in tune with his health mentally and physically.
19.Queen Latifah
In 1992, Queen Latifah’s brother was killed in a car crash. On a motorcycle that she brought for him. This sent her into a downward spiral. She talked about how she would drink so much, so she could numb her pain. When she did seek therapy she also was able to free other burdens that she kept bottled in for years. That she was molested by her babysitter at the age of 5. Therapy helped Queen Latifah to get her life back on track and live it to the fullest and that she did.
20. Mariah Carey
After a public meltdown in 2001, Mariah Carey was diagnosed with Bipolar II, which is the less severe form of bipolar disorder. She continues to do better since, seeking help from therapy.
Mental illness is very real. It does not matter who you are. Depression and other forms of mental illness can affect anyone. It doesn’t matter if you are very wealthy or very poor or middle class, it’s victims of mental illness in all social statuses. Please continue to be graceful when judging celebrities. Money does not solve all problems. And be more gentle with people around you, your family, friends, people in your community. You never know what someone may be going through.
If you or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts please contact 911. If you need someone to talk to and you are not in any immediate danger call the Toll Free National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255. And please remember this, “There is always a rainbow after the storm.”
