Katy Perry Opens Up About Experiencing Depression

De Elizabeth

Katy Perry is getting real about mental health. In a new interview with Vogue India, the singer-songwriter opened up about dealing with depression, noting that 2017 and 2018 were some of her toughest years yet.

"I became depressed and I did not want to get out of bed," Perry shared. "In the past, I had been able to overcome it, but this time something happened that made me fall down too many flights of stairs. I had to really go on a mental health journey."

Fortunately, Perry had plenty of support for that journey. She told Vogue India that in addition to seeking therapy and trying meditation, she has been able to lean on her fiancé, Orlando Bloom, who also understands the importance of caring for one’s mental health. "He’s an anchor who holds me down, and he’s very real," Perry said, adding that Bloom is on a "spiritual journey" of his own. "He’s not the number one fan of Katy Perry, but he’s the number one fan of Katheryn Hudson."

Perry wishes that more people (especially those in the public eye) would be open to discussing depression and mental health. "We talk about all our different organs but never talk about out brain, which keeps us functioning the most," she said. And the singer-songwriter raises an important point; the stigma surrounding mental health can prohibit people from pursuing the help they need.

But it’s important to note that there’s nothing shameful about asking for help or dealing with depression; according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 17.3 million U.S. adults experienced at least one major depressive episode in the year 2017. For something so common, we should be talking about it more and normalizing the importance of mental health care. Kudos to Perry for speaking out and undoubtedly helping others feel less alone.

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Originally Appeared on Allure