![ctd1.jpg]( "ctd1.jpg")
One might think that fame and money bring happiness, but in fact, the celebrity lifestyle comes with a lot of risk factors for depression: substance abuse, sleep disruption, highly variable work schedules, and periods of unemployment, as well as intense public scrutiny and its associated guilt, shame, and insecurity. Many celebrities have shared their struggles with depression (see
Part 1). Here are a few more.
Sarah SilvermanSarah has been open about her experience with depression for years, including on
The Ellen Show,
CNN,
Charlie Rose, and
NPR's Fresh Air, as well as in
Glamour and
Marie Claire.
In the
video below, a segment on
The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet, Sarah talks about the onset of her depression at 13 and how her perspective shifted suddenly, realizing that we are all alone in our minds and that death is inevitable. "It feels like you're terribly homesick," she says. "But you're home, so there's no way to satiate it."
She mentions being on medication (she has taken Zoloft since 1994), going to therapy, and using other techniques like exercise to curb the lows when they do start to creep in. She's learned to remember—even at the worst times—that it will pass: “I wouldn’t wish depression on anyone. But if you ever experience it, or are experiencing it right now, just know that on the other side, the little joys in life will be that much sweeter.”
A lot of Sarah's interviews about depression were a result of starring in
I Smile Back (2015)
, a movie based on a novel of the same name. The author Amy Koppelman fell in love with Sarah based on her appearance on The Howard Stern Show and wrote the screenplay with her in mind. It follows a woman whose life appears perfect from the outside as she struggles with mental illness and self-medicates with drugs and alcohol. This was Sarah's first dramatic role and was called "a revelation" and "a career-changing performance."
Demi LovatoDemi was diagnosed with bipolar depression at the age of 19. She has also struggled with addiction and disordered eating. As part of her own recovery, Demi has made it a point to advocate for others who are facing similar difficulties. She
shared her story in depth for Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health, her partnership with five mental health advocacy organizations; she has a book out called
Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year ("There's no day off in recovery"); and most recently, she
offered free group counseling and workshops to fans through
CAST Centers, the treatment center and wellness program that she co-owns.
In 2013, she
was honored by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration "for her work as a mentor to young adults with mental health and substance use challenges." She received the award on National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day.
In 2014, she spoke at the
National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI), saying "Mental illness has no prejudice. It affects people of every race, age, gender, religion, and economic status," and "We know that mental illness can be absolutely devastating. We also know that mental illness can be treatable when we have access to comprehensive care."
Wayne BradyIn 2014, Wayne talked about suffering what he calls a "
complete breakdown" on his 42nd birthday and how that served as a catalyst for him to start making changes in his life. He had previously kept quiet because of the stigma surrounding men, emotions, and mental illness, as well as worry that it would undermine his career as a happy-go-lucky comedian. He also notes the suicide of Robin Williams as a motivator: "These secrets kill."
In 2015, he partnered with
Bring Change to Mind (itself in partnership with
Brandon Marshall’s Project 375) and their
#StrongerThanStigma campaign, designed to "raise awareness around the unique challenges that men face when discussing mental health, to encourage open dialogue, and to promote help-seeking behavior."
Owen WilsonIn a 2005
Playboy interview, Owen
mentioned the "Irish strain of depression" that he inherited from his family. A couple years later, he attempted suicide. He was hospitalized for treatment and
withdrew from Tropic Thunder (to be replaced by Matthew McConaughey). Unlike many other stars who have battled inner demons like his, Owen's remained mostly mum on the experience.
Youtube sources:
Sarah,
I Smile Back trailer,
Demi,
WayneThe rest of the sources are linked throughout.
