Selena Gomez gets candid about mental health struggles: ‘I know first hand how scary and lonely it can feel’
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Selena Gomez got candid about mental health.
On Thursday, the 28-year-old singer shared that she's launching a new initiative, #MentalHealth101 with Rare Impact through her beauty brand Rare Beauty. She called the campaign "close to her heart" and shared her struggles with her own mental health.
"I know first hand how scary and lonely it can feel to face anxiety and depression by yourself at a young age," she wrote. "If I had learned about my mental health earlier on — been taught about my condition in school that way I was taught about other subjects — my journey could have looked very different."
Gomez added that she wanted the world to know that mental health matters just as much as physical health and gave words of encouragement to those going through mental health challenges.
"For anyone who is hurting right now, I hope you know that you are not alone. I’m a believer in seeking help. Getting support and educating myself on mental heal has changed my life, and it can change yours, too. I hope that Mental Health 101 will be the stepping stones for others that I wish I had … to get connected to the resources they need, and to empower young people in ways that may not have been possible before. I hope you’ll join me in supporting this initiative and being part of the change," she said.
Fans took to the comments to praise Gomez for her transparency.
"YOU ARE THE BEST," one fan wrote.
"Thank you for the message Selena," someone added.
"You're such a queen mental health isn't given much importance these days but you taking initiative is going to help many im sure," one person continued.
Gomez also shared a graphic imagining what it would be like if mental health was taught in schools, accompained by statistics about Gen Zers, why mental health is as important as other subjects and how people can help the cause.
"When I created Rare Impact by @RareBeauty my goal was always to bring more mental health services to educational settings. I’m proud to launch #MentalHealth101 – dedicated to supporting mental health education and encouraging financial support for more mental health services in educational services," she captioned the post.
She also announced a GoFundMe campaign to help give more access to mental health services and that Rare Impact would matching $200,000 in donations.
This is far from the first time that the "Come and Get It" singer has been candid about her struggles with mental health. In an interview with People in September, Gomez admitted that being open about mental health has been challenging.
"[Being open] isn't an easy thing to ask of someone," she said at the time. "I've had to go away a few times for stuff I didn't know [I was struggling with] and was confused by. And then this stigma came: What would people think? But when I thought about it, my first answer was, 'I don't care, this is my truth.' I'm not a stigma. I'm a person that walks their life."
She went on to say that though she does work hard in her professional career, she continues to deal with mental health issues.
"In the beginning, it seemed hopeless. Sometimes it was a challenge for me to even get out of bed. I was like, 'Why can't I be like you guys?' Over the years I've finally found my rhythm, but it took me time," she explained.
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