6 Celebrity Mental Health Advocates (and What They’re Up To)

People of all ages look up to celebrities and give special attention to their opinions and influence. Some public figures choose to use their platforms to talk about issues that aren’t necessarily a part of the work that made them famous but deeply matter to them. When a celebrity uses their platform to advocate for mental health, they can influence thousands, if not millions. Here are some great, recent examples of celebrity mental health advocates using their privilege to destigmatize mental health concerns. 

General Mental Health

Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge

A mental health initiative launched by The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Prince William and Princess Katherine), Heads Together aims to destigmatize mental health concerns and advocate for positive mental health. Last summer, Heads Together and the Football Authority (FA) partnered to create a national campaign around the sport called Heads Up. The goal (if you’ll pardon the pun) was to normalize conversations about men’s mental health in particular. The effects have been felt internationally. The Duke has been front and center in this effort. 

Miley Cyrus

Amid this pandemic, Miley Cyrus understands and is advocating for individuals struggling with their mental health. In order to destigmatize seeking help, she recorded a one-on-one call with her therapist and shared it on Instagram, where she has over 100 million followers. This is where the original concept for her new show, Bright Minded, was born. In her IGTV show, Cyrus and her guests discuss how to stay high-spirited in these uncertain times.

Eating Disorders, Body Dysmorphia, Depression

Jameela Jamil

Jameela Jamil is an actress most famous for her role in The Good Place, where she acted the part of Tahani Al-Jamil. With millions of followers on Instagram, Jamil has dedicated herself to advocating for those battling eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and depression. She created an online community and hosts a podcast, both called I WEIGH, which center on radical inclusivity and “weighing” our value by metrics other than bodyweight. Jamil has been extremely candid about her own struggles with an eating disorder. She aims to normalize and destigmatize these struggles and be an advocate so that people feel comfortable talking about them and seeking help.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Brandon Marshall

Brandon Marshall is a former American football wide receiver and current sports TV personality who played 13 seasons in the NFL. He is now an active mental health advocate. In a field like sports, mental health concerns carry a deep stigma. Men, in particular, are expected to be tough, both physically and emotionally. Marshall has used his platform to open up about mental health stigma and how he battled to be candid about his own struggles. He has written about his own Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) diagnosis and his relief at finally being diagnosed. Marshall is a huge advocate for seeking answers and treatment for mental health concerns. 

Anxiety, Depression

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps is best known for his success in Olympic swimming, but he is also a decorated advocate for mental health. After opening up about his struggles with depression and anxiety in 2015, he said that he “dreamed of being able to get more publicity to this and to really share my journey and have other people share their journeys with me as well.” His vulnerability is changing the way people think about mental health, especially for high-performers. For his mental health advocacy, he received the Ruderman Award in 2019, which is given to individuals passionate about providing opportunities for others. Phelps regularly speaks out about seeking mental health care and his own struggles, including his mental health challenges during the pandemic, to destigmatize mental health concerns and normalize reaching out for help. 

Bipolar

Glenn Close

Glenn Close is most known as the seven-time academy award-nominated actress and Broadway performer. Close has become a well-known advocate for mental health after a life-long journey with her sister, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2004. Close advocates for access to treatment and encourages people to seek treatment for mental health concerns. Her sisters’ journey inspired Glenn to launch Bring Change 2 Mind (BC2M) in 2021, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization working to change attitudes about mental illness through public education and partnerships.

If you’re ready to reach out for help, you can search by your zip code and filter your results by Common Specialties to find a therapist near you who can help you address your mental health concerns. To see the full list of Common Specialties, expand the list by clicking “More…” and then check the “All other issues” box.

Over the past half decade, Kati Morton, LMFT has used social media to discuss mental health-related subjects with viewers from throughout the world. Eating issues and self-harm are often the primary focus, but her conversations cover a wide range of mental health topics.

Kati received her master’s in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. She is also a certified dialectical and behavioral therapist and grief counselor, member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and continuing education presenter at GoodTherapy.org. In her upcoming web conference, Self-Injury: Assessment, Comorbidity, and Treatment, Kati will discuss the stigma surrounding mental health and self-harm.

On YouTube, Kati is known for her channel, which has over 220,000 subscribers. Kati has also gained followers on Twitter, Facebook, and her website. She has been featured in Glamour UK and appeared on the HLN/CNN show Dr. Drew On Call. In addition, Kati was a Shorty Award finalist in 2016 and nominated for the 2016 Streamy Awards.

By bringing awareness to mental health issues, Kati hopes to separate stigma from seeking therapy and promote better mental health services worldwide. In an exclusive interview with GoodTherapy.org, Kati discusses her global online community and shares her thoughts on how to make mental health more relatable and accessible.

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What led you to start your YouTube channel, and can you describe how that process went for you?

It was actually my husband who wanted to start it. Because he does film production for a living, he’d gone to a conference in a convention where he was filming, and they talked about YouTube, and he was obviously listening as he was filming. He came home and was like, “You always talk about how people don’t understand what you do—we should tell people on YouTube. I’ll help you film, let’s put it out there.” And I was like, “No, I don’t want to be on camera.” Then a few months later I was like, “Okay, let’s just give it a try with a couple of videos.” And that’s how it started.

What inspired you to center some of your discussion on the topics of eating issues and self-harm?

It’s what I know best, you know? My first internship was with an eating disorder treatment center, inpatient, and it wasn’t something I thought I would want to work in. I had some close friends in high school go through eating disorder struggles. But I found it to be so rewarding, and for people who don’t know, there’s a huge comorbidity between eating disorders and self-injury. A lot of times, people will swap one out for the other or struggle with both simultaneously. I just started because it was one of the jobs I got, and it’s tough work but so worth it.

How did your experiences in inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities influence your life and career path?

Career path-wise, that’s what I specialize in. I decided to continue working in that realm. I think as a whole, if you decide to specialize, it changes the trajectory of your career in many ways. I think working in an inpatient ward, hospitals, as well as actual treatment centers really made me want to continue. And seeing when people are at their lowest point, that’s the highest level of care, and knowing it can get better from there gave me hope to do it on an outpatient basis. I worked at IOPs [intensive outpatient programs] and PHPs [partial hospitalization programs] as well, and seeing people work through it gave me hope for not only myself but for others. And it’s always kept me going.

How has your approach to creating content evolved as your online and social media presence continues growing?

There’s a couple of main things. Obviously, not everybody’s comfortable on camera. So the first videos are super awkward and uncomfortable, and you can definitely see, as I get more used to being in front of the camera, more personality, versus me being very clinical and dry and awkward. Also, I’m more casual in general. I found as the channel grew, people had more questions about what therapists think, which I always find to be interesting. I’m in therapy myself, and there are some times when I’m like, “I wonder if she just thinks I’m totally crazy, that I think that or I wonder about that.” Because it’s the human condition. We seek connectivity and understanding, and it goes both ways.

And also, something I’ve shifted over the years is I’m not able to answer every question or comment. But when I started, I was able to do it. I think it was after the first year I remember telling my husband, “I can’t do this. I’m totally burnt.” I think it’s finding what works and how it’s sustainable for me. And content creation has shifted as to what people ask for, because it’s all community-based.

How have your successes affected your private practice? Do the people you see in therapy react to your status as a public figure?

I’ve only had it a couple of times. I’m very leery of taking any viewers on as patients. So right now, I only take new patients in from my referral sources, like a psychiatrist I’ve worked through for years and other clinics that I already know. I did have [one] client. He had taken a break, and I already had my channel but it was only a year or two old, so when he came back for a few months, he was like, “Congratulations, you’re famous and stuff!” And I said, “Oh, does that bother you?” or “What are your thoughts on that?” And he was like, “No, that’s awesome, that’s cool! It’s a great resource. I watched your video about GAD [generalized anxiety] and I found it super helpful.” And I was like, “Oh, okay, cool.” And that’s about it. I do utilize it sometimes, especially for psychoeducation. If they have a new diagnosis and we’ve talked about it, I’ll say, “You can watch this video if you want to know more.”

What role do you want your content and videos to play in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues and seeking therapy?

I do get some pushback from the therapy world, from other therapists who are like, “You should take this more seriously.” And no offense to them, but I think that’s the old way of thinking. I think being a therapist and making it more approachable only does good. Just like anybody, I’m not going to be the person everybody likes, and that’s fine. So my main goal is to make it accessible so it’s not so scary. I think the stigma lingers because of fear, as well as ignorance. So by educating and making it more relatable and approachable, hopefully [like] I told my husband, “If even one person decides to get help because of this, it’s all worth it.”

I always encourage my audience to share in the comments, because that also empowers people to reach out and reminds people we’re all suffering from the human condition. We all have issues from time to time, and that’s not a bad thing.

How do you think the prevalence of the internet has impacted our ability to understand and process our own mental health and mental health issues?

It’s got positives and negatives, like anything. I think when it comes to the online world, the anonymity there is really powerful for people. People are able to talk about things they might not be able to face to face online because it’s a little safer. If I’m Trixiegirl57, I can tell you that I struggled with suicidal thoughts when I was a teen and not feel vulnerable [as] me telling you face to face.

I also think the ability to disseminate information is really powerful. Even in the video content I create, I always encourage my audience to share in the comments, because that also empowers people to reach out and reminds people we’re all suffering from the human condition. We all have issues from time to time, and that’s not a bad thing. So overall, the internet and online resources have only made things more accessible.

Some use the internet to express volatility and negativity. How do you maintain the online community you’ve developed as a safe place for healing and growth?

It’s the way I communicate it to them. I don’t know when I freed myself from approving all comments. I used to [have] long lists of words that aren’t approved. I’ve always approved everything, and because I did that, it kept [the words] out and I would let them know that’s why. I was like, “Don’t think this happened by accident, I put a lot of effort into this and you should too.” And so part of it is, instead of it being just me, it’s a whole community. When I decided to let that go, I asked people in the community, “Who wants to be moderators?” And people automatically signed up. It’s like co-ownership over the community. Because overall, everyone is going to want it to be a safe and nice place. If you give them the option and you empower them, they’ll do a good job.

Mental Health America’s State of Mental Health Report 2018 was recently released. It included data indicating that rates of severe youth depression have increased over a five-year period and that 1.5 million youth experiencing major depression did not receive any mental health treatment. As a society, what can we do to combat these trends?

Talk about it. I speak at schools, and I’ve been trying to get someone to help me with it. So I heard back from an agency, and they said, “You know there’s no money in mental health, people don’t really want to hear about it.” And I mean, thanks for your candor. But I think that’s a problem.

The more we talk about it and tell children and people of any age that it’s normal to have a hard time and to have these ebbs and flows, this is when you need to talk to someone. That’s just basic knowledge people should have and we don’t teach that in schools. We don’t talk to kids about mental health. I feel like there are certain things we should teach kids, and the more we talk about it, the less we’ll see those numbers because they’re more apt to talk to someone or reach out if they know it’s okay and that there are resources. I get a ton of comments asking, “How do I know if I have a school counselor?” I’m like, “How do you not know? Somebody should have told you!”

I think that some of that is on us as adults, to change the way that we educate and talk about it. Even if you don’t have all the answers, it’s still okay to tell a child or a teenager, “It’s okay to talk about it. I don’t know what necessarily this means, but we can find someone who does. And that’s okay too.” Shutting down or telling them it’s not a big deal is the wrong thing, and a lot of parents don’t know how to handle it. And there’s more pressure on kids. I mean just having social media, can you imagine? Having social media when you’re a teenager? Holy moly.

You have shared that seeking therapy for yourself is an important part of your self-care regimen. How would you describe the importance of therapy to someone who is considering it?

Seeking therapy for myself has been a huge part of taking care of myself, and I honestly believe all therapists should. You need to know what it’s like to be on the other side of it. [With] the therapeutic relationship, it’s almost like the way people describe knowing you want to date or marry someone. It sounds so cliché, but therapy is the same. I always tell people, you need to know you like them enough to tell them some big things at some point. And you feel like they’re on your team and they really hear you. It’s going to be different for everyone. I know it’s not always going to be perfect, and your therapist can push you a little harder than you want sometimes, but that’s part of their job. And trust your gut. Usually, you know right away.

What is your advice for therapists and mental health advocates who aspire to create content but are having difficulty starting out?

It’s a lot of work, I understand. My advice is always the same: just do it. You can hem and haw and try to put together the perfect video, but that doesn’t exist because you don’t know what you’re doing yet. You’re learning. I think people worry, especially in therapy, “What if a potential patient sees it and doesn’t like it?” Well, that means they’re probably not going to be a good fit for you anyway. Just do things that are true to who you are and what you want to represent, and you’re going to be fine. There are always going to be more questions to ask yourself and wonder and worry about. But the sooner you start going after things that you want, the sooner they’re yours.

Have you noticed a general unease, anxiety, or agitation as you move through your days, with sudden bursts of more extreme rage or anxiety when certain things don’t go your way?  Do you notice a frequent feeling of depression and despair when you think about how your life is going?  Does every day feel like you’re walking through mud or as if nothing feels good enough?

There may be a variety of causes for these feelings, but I want to focus specifically on one cause that plagues many of us: the war we are waging against reality. To put it another way, we may have certain pictures in our minds of how we think life should look and cannot accept when those pictures do not correspond to what life really is shaping out to be. In this article, I want to help you identify if you are indeed waging such a war and (if so) how you can find peace by accepting yourself and your life as is.

Why Do We Wage War with Reality?

One of the most difficult aspects of life for human beings is our lack of control. It is often the cause of a tremendous amount of anxiety, and many of us unconsciously spend a great deal of energy developing strategies to attempt to establish control or convince ourselves that we can control life. When things in life go in certain ways that demonstrate our lack of control, it can be quite unnerving. If you experienced pain as a child, when a lack of control is quite evident, unnerving events now may feel especially threatening. [fat_widget_right]

If this resonates for you, you may be unconsciously fighting against reality. Other signs might include frequent agitation and anxiety or rage when things happen that you don’t want to happen. This can range from spilling something on the floor, to traffic, to not performing the way you want, to feeling frequently agitated by the people in your lives. And if these intense emotional reactions are due to particular events, they may be evoking memories of injuries you may have sustained as a child.

Fighting against reality, whatever is actually occurring in every given moment, can be the source of significant pain, but the thought of not fighting can be even more frightening. By not fighting, you have to accept that you are not in control.

Radical Acceptance

Radical acceptance describes the act of embracing, with your entire being, what is happening now. It is accepting that you cannot control others. It means accepting yourself as you are, no matter who that person is. Radical acceptance means removing the additional layer of reactions to the things that are happening that you do not like.

Accepting that you are not in control takes a lot of practice! It helps to remember you don’t have to like what is happening. In fact, radical acceptance does not mean you resign yourself to injustice or harm. What it does mean is accepting what is happening in order to take action appropriately and effectively.

Fighting against reality, whatever is actually occurring in every given moment, can be the source of significant pain, but the thought of not fighting can be even more frightening. By not fighting, you have to accept that you are not in control.

When you accept life, you will find that you can choose how to respond to it rather than feel imprisoned by it, and this, in turn, may help you find a connection to joy.

Here are a few ways to start down the road to radical acceptance:

1. Build your awareness. Start to observe your own reactions to life’s twists and turns as much as possible. Examine which kinds of twists and turns in particular get to you. How do you typically react? Building awareness in and of itself is an act of acceptance because it is separate from judgment and reaction.
2. Practice watching your breath. You don’t need a meditation practice to watch your breath. Whenever you feel a reaction coming on, take several deep breaths into your belly, as many as you can until your reaction subsides. This and awareness are the seeds of radical acceptance.
3. Work with your thoughts. As you build your awareness, you will notice your reactive thoughts take a certain form: “This sucks!” “I hate this!” “Why is this happening to me?” “Why do bad things always happen?” Once you can identify those thoughts, you can work with them by counteracting them. You can challenge those thoughts by refuting them in your own mind: “Actually, bad things don’t always happen to me.” “Yes, I don’t like this, but it’s okay. I can deal with it.”

These are some of the basic but surprisingly difficult ways to develop radical acceptance. If you dedicate to these practices, you may find it easier to shift the way you relate to life and that, by doing so, you find more peace and joy in life.

If you find the practice of radical acceptance to be challenging, a mental health professional can offer support and guidance. I wish you the best in your pursuit.